Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Among The Sons of Seth
Among The Sons of Seth
n
g
t
h
e
S
o
n
so
fS
e
t
h
Jenni
f
erL.Ar
mst
r
ong
Among
the
Sons of Seth
By
Jennifer L. Armstrong
2012
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons AttributionNoncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License. To view
a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/bync-nd/3.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 171 Second Street,
Suite 300, San Francisco, California, 94105, USA.
Part One
Chapter One
Chapter One
Chapter One
But Qayin doesn't want to include us. He jerks his dark head
toward a side room where we take our meals while in the shop.
Tubal-Cain nods and leads him into the small room, but he keeps
the door slightly ajar.
Naamah and I are wide-eyed. We both have the same thought.
When the men talk like this, they are arranging a marriage. I do
not blame Naamah for wanting to hear what is going on.
Although passersby pause to look into our glass windows and
examine the fine-details of Tubal-Cain's work, no one comes in.
Of one mind, Naamah and I move closer to the door.
Why is your sister named Havilah? Qayin is demanding. For
one sick moment, I fear that he is asking for me in marriage.
I was young when they named her. I did not ask. Why?
Qayin does not answer his question.
What I am about to tell you, you must tell no one. Not even
your wife.
Tubal-Cain laughs.
My wife? My wife will have at least five things to tell me when
I walk through the door. I doubt I will be able to tell her anything
about my day.
Qayin is not interested in Tubal-Cain's domestic situation.
A man in the tavern, a trader, showed me a different metal.
One I had never seen before.
Tubal-Cain murmurs something agreeable.
He said it came from the land of Havilah. Tubal-Cain, it was
unlike anything I had ever seen before.
In what why?
It had a different shine to it . . . The fact that Qayin must
search for words is an indicator of how unusual this metal is.
More like the sun, he finally says.
Hmmm, says our brother, taking this in.
Now that Naamah knows it is not a marriage proposal she has
moved away from the door, visibly deflated.
I have borrowed money from Jabal, says Qayin.
Foolish, foolish. I cannot see it, but I know my brother is
shaking his head. There is only one way to become a slave in our
city and that is to be unable to repay a debt.
You would not say that if you saw this metal. I used the
money to purchase the man's whole hoard. And I will make four
times the amount of money I borrowed from Jabal.
7
Chapter Two
Chapter Two
With these stones, the man says, the pouch open. Casually
he drops several round smooth stones onto one of our tables.
Tubal-Cain comes over to examine them.
With a quick welcome to be courteous he then asks the
stranger, What are these? Clearly intrigued, my brother has
picked up one of the stones and is studying it with the care of an
expert. Even Qayin, heading for the door, pauses and comes back
to join him.
This noble visitor selected the ebony knife, I say helpfully.
Without knowing what the man has purchased, Tubal-Cain will
be unable to determine whether this is a fair trade.
But Tubal-Cain barely hears me. I am the only one close
enough to him to hear him mutter, I have never seen anything
like these.
Is it sufficient? the man asks.
Yes, friend, says Tubal-Cain, looking up. It is sufficient.
And I wish you well.
The man nods but lingers. Tubal-Cain has already turned his
attention back to the stones. Qayin is watching over his shoulder,
obviously envious of my brother's acquisition. I feel it is my duty
to escort the man to the door, though I admit, with the women
purchasing pots, I usually let them find their own way to the exit.
The man's smile is as dazzling as the sun that now shines on
the white stones of the plaza outside my brother's store.
We both hesitate at the door. As the one who tends the store,
it is my job to open it, but it is the man who pulls back the
shimmering glass door.
I want to know more. Will I see him again? Does he live in
Enoch? Who is he? Why is he a head taller than every other man
out in the street? The words that come out of my mouth are not
the words of my heart, but I am curious.
Where did you find such beautiful stones? I ask.
We are now standing just outside the shop.
They are the rocks that sparkle on the surface of the moon,
my lady.
The man winks at me and then he is gone.
With weak legs, I go back inside and return to the table where
Tubal-Cain and Qayin are still examining the stones. I am not
sure that I believe the man's explanation.
They are perfectly spherical, Tubal-Cain is saying. And yet,
12
Chapter Two
Chapter Two
Yes?
He said they would be good for engaged couples.
Engaged couples? I say. How so?
Naamah holds out her left hand and points to the finger
beside her smallest one.
He says that the vein in this finger is connected to the
heart . . .
My eyes widen.
Where did he learn this? I say. As far as I know, he counts
no physicians among his friends.
Naamah shrugs.
. . . and we, that is, he and Tubal-Cain, can sell rings to
engaged couples, as a pledge. A woman can wear a ring to save
her heart for one man.
Gold rings, I suppose, I say drily.
Well, yes, says Naamah. But even other metals when the
gold is all used.
But this is not my sister's point. She is still restless.
And . . . ? I say.
And I think maybe one of the gold rings will be for me, she
says.
I hope my jaw does not drop.
What makes you say that? I ask.
He asked our brother to put one aside.
I think about this. That is news. But does it mean that the ring
is for Naamah?
There is no reason why I should not discuss this with TubalCain. Our sister needs to know, once and for all, whether or not
she will ever be the wife of Qayin. But I will have to wait until
my sister is not around. My opportunity comes when Naamah
leaves the store to get our midday meal. Tubal-Cain's wife will
have made us something. Normally, he would eat it with her in
the apartment, but these days, he is eager to finish working with
the gold.
Even though I know he does not want to be disturbed, I hurry
into the side room as soon as Naamah disappears from sight.
Thankfully, the shop is empty of customers.
Dear brother, I say, hurriedly, trying not to startle him as he
works carefully on a ring. I would not disturb you except that
this is important.
16
Chapter Two
17
18
Chapter Three
Chapter Three
Chapter Three
able to bring down the awnings that protect our glass windows
and lock the front door. I tiptoe up the stairs to check on
Naamah and find her sleeping on one of our brother's wife's old
animal skins. I go back down and tell Tubal-Cain that tonight I
will go and visit our mother.
He nods as he works.
I would go with you if I were not so busy, he says. The
streets are not always safe.
I shrug.
It has always been that way.
Tubal-Cain shakes his head.
You are younger, he says. But I remember a time when no
one ever had to fear the streets at night.
The only reason I know that it is true is because of our father.
Had he killed a man today, it would not seem so shocking.
I will be careful, I promise.
I would feel better if you had an escort, says Tubal-Cain,
looking up from the ring he is working on. Or if you waited
until I could accompany you. Is it important that you speak with
our mother tonight?
I hesitate. I think our mother would understand that Naamah
needs a husband and I am hoping that she would advise me how
I can help her. At the same time, I would like to ask her if she
has ever met a son of Seth.
Tubal-Cain is torn. He has the gold to work on but it is an
honourable activity to visit our mother and I know it has been
much longer since he has seen her than I have.
I will go soon, he says. Then we will go together.
His eyes return to his work.
I will not be there for the evening meal, he adds. Lovely. It
will be me who has to convey this to his wife who will act like
slicing some tomatoes was a big accomplishment and that it is
somehow my fault that her husband has too much work. I sigh
and go back into the main shop, now darkened by awnings
covering the glass.
It is just as dark outside when I step out into the cool night air
for the short walk to the apartment. The market is now quiet.
There are only a few tent-dwellers left in the city, mostly young
men who are heading for the taverns with their day's earnings.
When a male voice startles me, my first fear is that a tent24
Chapter Three
25
26
Chapter Four
Chapter Four
If I do not marry . . .
He shakes his head.
You mistake my meaning. There are other ways.
Other ways? I ask, bewildered.
The sons of men bring sorrow to their sisters, he says.
Why should you desire them?
Who is there, but the sons of men? I say.
Semjaza is silent for a moment. There is only the light of the
moon to see him by, his hair dark and wavy, his eyes the colour
of burnished bronze.
The sons of God.
The way Semjaza says it, I begin to tremble.
What do you mean? I ask.
The sons of God, he repeats. And the daughters of men.
No curse. No sorrow.
I do not know what to say. Is it possible? A son of God? Our
Father Adam was a son of God, made of dust. But now we are
all children of Adam.
Where do you come from, Semjaza? I ask.
I come from the stars, he says simply.
And for the moment, I believe him.
Semjaza talks to Lamech, to arrange the marriage. I have never
been close to my father and of course, my father is known to be
a murderer. But Semjaza is clearly the stronger of the two. If he
requests my father's permission, it is only a formality. Semjaza is
more than confident enough to simply tell my father that he has
chosen me.
In any case, Lamech announces both his permission and his
blessing.
Naamah's envy is palatable. It seems particularly poignant now
that the ring is on my finger.
Tubal-Cain is surprised and a little bit awed, I think, at the
prospect of such a brother-in-law.
It fills me with a terrible fear. The fear comes from knowing
that I am not good enough. Semjaza is far superior to any other
man in Enoch, and yet, he chose me. How long will this fancy
last, I wonder? It is true, I would always be the first wife, but it
does not bring me comfort to think that he could very well
decide to take others. It is approved only if a man can afford it,
29
but a man who has moon rocks is sure to be able to afford it.
I leave it to my father to find out all the details about my
future husband. Where is he from? Where will we live after we
are married? There is no reason why I should not ask these
questions myself. Tubal-Cain's wife is scornful of me for
knowing nothing about Semjaza. She did not marry my brother
without making sure she knew all she needed to about him.
Tubal-Cain even had to agree that he would only take one wife.
Already, all of Enoch is talking about the upcoming marriage.
My brother, Jubal, is planning the music. There will be an
ensemble of flutes and harps and instruments unlike that of
anything the city has ever seen. There is something about
Semjaza that makes everyone think that he must be an important
chief, wherever he comes from. They talk about how unworthy I
am of this great honour, but it is with envy. The general
assumption is that I will be the most honoured lady in some
distant settlement. But Semjaza could be a wanderer, for all I
know.
Tubal-Cain and I make a belated visit to our mother, Zillah. It
is partly to discuss the upcoming marriage ceremony with her. As
mother of the bride, she will have an honoured position in the
day's festivities.
Tubal-Cain greets our mother solemnly, slightly abashed at
how long it has been since his last visit. I have no such guilt and
greet her with the usual kiss on both cheeks. We sit down in her
small sitting room. The townhouse is mercifully quiet with Adah
visiting Jabal and our father out doing his business.
Our Havilah has made a fine match, says Tubal-Cain.
Our mother, a slim dark-haired woman with fine features,
dressed in a long blue house robe made of soft wool, nods.
Your father has told me. He has said there is no man like
Semjaza.
I nod.
He tells me that you will be living in Enoch, continues our
mother. And that his brothers will come and join him.
His brothers! Tubal-Cain and I look at one another.
That should liven things up for the ladies of Enoch, says
Tubal-Cain. Does he have sisters too?
It is a mischievous question, but our mother takes it seriously.
No, only brothers.
30
Chapter Four
marry, I would never have told you. But the marriage ceremony is
the only ritual before Yah and I cannot lie to everyone.
It is true. A marriage ceremony is a commemoration of the
day Yah presented Hawwa to Adam.
But what is there to lie about, Mother? says Tubal-Cain,
bewildered.
About Havilah, she says.
What about Havilah? he says.
No. She thinks again. It is not about Havilah. It is about
me.
Tubal-Cain and I do not know what to say.
It is about me, she says again. The place of honour is not
mine.
We wait and when she does not speak, Tubal-Cain asks, Why
Mother?
Because Havilah is not my daughter, she says simply, her
eyes on the wall.
My eyes are wide. Zillah is the only mother I know. How can
she speak this way?
Mother! says Tubal-Cain, shocked.
It is true. She looks at him. And you should know it. You
were old enough to know it.
I am sitting very still. Not my mother! But then, that means
Naamah is not my sister and Tubal-Cain is not my brother!
Tubal-Cain is now sitting, also still and silent.
I turn to him, though I speak to my mother.
What do you mean? Why should he know?
Because he was old enough, she repeats. He was already a
fine craftsman when you became my daughter.
How did I become your daughter?
Your father was a stranger, says Zillah.
My father is not Lamech?
Zillah shakes her head.
No. There is a long pause and then finally she says,
Lamech killed your father.
This revelation is like a thunderbolt suddenly striking in the
sitting room.
And still, Tubal-Cain is silent.
I have to sit for a minute before I can say anything. And when
I speak, it is slowly.
32
Chapter Four
price. I think he suggested that the man give you as part of the
payment.
My eyes widen at the horror.
The man refused and said that where he came from, an
agreement was a matter of honour. That is all I know. Lamech
came home that day and boasted that he had killed a young man,
a young man who had wounded him. Our Father Cain was
avenged sevenfold and he seventy-fold.
I feel a distress I have never known. An ache for someone I
have never met. My dead father. Who probably wounded Lamech
in an effort to keep me from becoming a slave.
He brought you home that day, says Zillah. I had recently
had Naamah so Lamech gave you to Adah. But Adah said she
would not raise a stranger's whelp. I took you. She leans forward
to grasp my hand. I loved you, Havilah. You must never doubt
that. I loved my two little girls. Tubal-Cain was gone and I loved
you both.
Now the woman I thought had been my mother is weeping
into her hands.
But you must have known, I say, turning to Tubal-Cain.
He shrugs.
I was not certain. I left this home the day my father killed
that man. I started my own shop and handled my own business
transactions.
No wonder Tubal-Cain is so indifferent at times to the
amount of money his craftsmanship generates. His first work led
to a death . . . the death of my father.
I never saw you until I came back to visit my mother's
house, Tubal-Cain continues. Whatever doubts I had, I told
myself that my mother had hidden her pregnancy well and that
you were her true daughter.
But this explains his kindness toward me. Tubal-Cain has been
more of a father to me then Lamech. He always knew, no matter
what he told himself.
This does not need to change anything, Havilah, says TubalCain. We are back out in the dark street, having comforted our
mother as best we could. She will always be my mother. I know
no other. I told her this and she held me close before we left. The
wedding was not discussed any further.
34
Chapter Four
35
36
Chapter Five
aamah does not know that I am not her true sister and I
leave that for our mother to tell her. Tubal-Cain and I
carry on as usual.
I beg Naamah for some time alone and assuming that I have
wedding preparations, she graciously agrees to take the store for
the entire afternoon.
But instead of going out, I go up to the second floor and to
the trunk.
The manuscript, I have already memorized. But now I read it
with new eyes. There is a brief genealogy. Previously, the names
were strangers to me. But now I think these strangers may be my
father and his father's fathers. It starts with Seth, the son Yah
gave to Adam and Hawwa to replace Abel. Seth was one hundred
and five when he fathered Enosh. Enosh was ninety years old
when he fathered Cainan. Cainan was seventy years old when he
fathered Mahalalel. Mahalalel was sixty-five years old when he
fathered Jared. That is where it has stopped. There are references
to other sons and daughters. The settlements of Seth would be
well-populated.
I turn my attention to the tunic and the robe. Both are well37
Chapter Five
choose to reveal that I know who I am. But for now, I will leave
things as they are.
Lamech is planning the wedding. A social outcast for all these
years, he is now the centre of attention. His daughter is marrying
a man who all can see will be a prominent man in the city. The
fact that his brothers are coming to join him does not diminish
his importance. It only enhances it. All are eager to have a place
at my wedding so as to ingratiate themselves with Semjaza.
Anyone with daughters is hoping that there will be enough
brothers to go around.
So Lamech is all consumed with planning the wedding of the
century. Interestingly, he does not notice my mother's lack of
involvement. It is Adah who is by his side, going from shop to
shop to make special purchases. They invite me over one night to
discuss the menu, to see if I have any opinions. I do not. But
Tubal-Cain's wife, who insisted on coming along, does. Zillah and
I smile sympathetically at one another while she and Adah have
an in-depth discussion about the amount of figs we will need and
whether it is too commonplace to include dark-leafed field greens
in the salad.
Lamech is sure of one thing. There will be an abundance of
wine. He has already commissioned a vineyard outside of the city
to provide all we will need.
It would help if we knew how many people we were going to
have at the feast, says Adah, slyly, looking at me. She is seeking
information. She knows the whole city will be attending. What
she wants to know is whether Semjaza's brothers will be
attending. And how many brothers does he have? Then she will
be the first one to be able to announce it to everyone when she
does her tour of the market shops tomorrow.
I smile and am prevented from answering by Lamech.
There will be enough for all, he says.
The talk turns to the decorations and what flowers are in
season.
I watch Lamech - the man who I thought was my father, who
I now know murdered my true father. Hatred should consume
me, but Tubal-Cain has made atonement and been as good a
father to me as my own would have been. But it does not
diminish my desire to find my true family.
From the way Adah and Tubal-Cain's wife talk, I am the most
39
Chapter Five
Chapter Five
43
44
Chapter Six
is my moment of doubt. The iron gates where crafted by TubalCain and his men in the courtyard. I remember when they made
them. They worked on them for one whole moon cycle.
It is not too late for me to turn back. I have a handsome
husband to marry. A beloved sister and brother.
I hesitate.
There would be no repercussions if I returned to my
apartment now. I could simply sit there until my wedding day and
then live a life of comfort.
No.
I take a deep breath.
I will keep going.
It is fallacious to think that I will have a life of comfort with
Semjaza. And I will never be satisfied as long as I do not know
who my father is.
The roads outside of the city are slightly quieter but I
encounter so many travellers on the road that I do not have a
sense of having left Enoch behind.
I am now passing the golden wheat fields. In the distance, I
can see barley. The farmers stay close to the city and build their
homes with a mud brick that is a rougher version of the bricks
we use in Enoch. Close to the copper mines, are the furnaces for
the bricks. I have visited neither, but Tubal-Cain makes an annual
journey to the mines and tells us it is a different world. A far less
refined world than the comforts of the city.
I have only ever gone as far as Jabal's tents and then I was
always with Tubal-Cain or other people in our family. Jabal's tents
are well out of sight of the city, but I do not plan to pass by
them. It would be unlikely that I could pass by unrecognized.
So when I see the tents in the distance, I turn off in to the
forest that lines one side of the road. The forest is dense. It is not
easy to walk in it. And it is common knowledge that there are
animals in the forest and some of them have even been known to
lunge at a man. But I comfort myself by recalling that the
manuscript told of a time when our Father Adam named all the
animals and they lived in peace in the Garden. It would be a
greater comfort to me to know that I am in the presence of Yah,
who talked with our Father Adam in the garden. Our Father Cain
went out from his presence and I wonder at what point I will
return to it.
46
Chapter Six
Chapter Six
Chapter Six
weary traveller.
I am a stranger in your land, I call out, moving closer.
He nods. It is self-evident.
If it is refreshment you need, he says. Stop at the third
house you come to and tell my mother that Roeh sent you.
God's blessing on you, Roeh, I say.
And upon you, sister, he says.
The word sister stirs me. I have only known the word spoken
to me by the children of Cain. But, of course, we are all brothers
and sisters in our Father Adam.
Once I reach the settlement, there is a wooden walkway and I
walk past the first two houses until I come to the third one.
Hesitantly, I knock at the door.
A woman not unlike my own answers the door. She has
Zillah's high bone features and long dark hair, as well as her
natural slimness. But this woman has spent more time outdoors
than my mother. It has been a life of hard work. She looks strong
and unintimidated.
Good day, daughter, she says.
And God's blessing to you too, I reply. Roeh sent me . . .
She smiles.
Roeh's heart is for the stranger. Come in. She steps aside to
let me enter.
The interior of the house is full of light. It does not have the
luxury of Enoch, but the furniture is made of a solid wood. A
wonderful aroma is coming from somewhere. The lady glances
down at Behemoth who also wants in.
Not you! she says, laughing. But if you are good, your
mistress will bring some fruit out for you!
Behemoth takes this well and as the door closes, I see him curl
up in front of the door.
I am led to a couch lined with cushions and invited to recline.
It is not often that a single woman comes to my door, she
says. In fact, I do not think I have ever entertained anyone
except the traders that pass our way.
I nod.
The mother of Roeh goes through a doorway and reappears
minutes later with a tray. She puts it down on a table and hands
me a clay cup. I sip it cautiously. It is hot, but sweet and delicious.
This is wonderful, I say.
52
Chapter Six
She laughs.
That is the advantage of having a son who has a heart for
strangers. They bring wonderful things. This is cocoa. It is grown
by the sons of Seth.
My eyes widen.
I mix it with the sugar cane that also comes from the traders.
I believe it grows on the banks of the Gihon.
Where am I exactly? I ask.
Among the settlements of Dalath, she replies. We are the
children of the fourth son of Adam. And what brings you to us,
daughter?
I hesitate.
I am from Enoch, I say.
She looks at me carefully.
You do not look like a child of Cain, she says.
I do not think I should tell her too much. If traders pass
through here she might tell them about me and they might return
to Enoch with stories about me. Then Semjaza would be able to
follow my route.
Enoch is all I know, I answer, truthfully.
And why do you leave all that you know? she asks.
I do not want to tell her that my objective is to visit Hawwa,
just in case Semjaza makes it this far and is determined to follow
me right to the water's edge.
But my silence is an answer for her.
She nods.
The sons of men are not always kind to their daughters. Are
you married?
I shake my head, confirming her belief that I have run from a
cruel father.
Well, my daughter. Go in peace and go with Yah's blessing.
But I would advise you to find a settlement rather than wander
the forests and fields. It is not a dismissal because she then
offers me a platter of fruit and vegetable wedges and while we
eat she tells me about her children. Roeh is her youngest, the only
one who is not married yet. Two still live in this settlement but
one daughter has married into the clan of Zayin, seventh son of
Adam.
I comment on the loom in this spacious room. She says that
Roeh's sheep provide the wool for her to make cloth. The other
53
Chapter Six
knows Yafeh and soon Behemoth and I are knocking at her door.
A small, bright-eyed boy answers. There is noise and laughter
from within the house. The boy considers his duty done and
hurries off to rejoin his brothers and sisters. Yafeh appears from
an archway leading into one of the rooms. I recognize her. She
has all of the features of her mother, but she is more filled out. It
must be all the children. The result is that she has surpassed her
mother in beauty, seeming to have a life that allows her both
leisure and activity.
Good evening, stranger, she says, wiping her hands on an
apron. I am afraid I have arrived while she is in the middle of
preparing the evening meal.
God's blessing on you as well, this evening, I reply. I have
come from your mother's home and she suggested I stop here.
Yafeh looks me over and welcomes me in. Even Behemoth is
allowed to trot along beside me. While Behemoth is very quickly
captured by a band of children who take him further into the
house, Yafeh lets me join her in a small courtyard where there is a
cooking fire.
Soon I am cutting up vegetables for a large pot of soup.
Yafeh asks me about her mother and Roeh and says that she
and the children must borrow a cart and go visit them sometime.
Roeh will not leave his sheep to come here, she explains.
Unlike her mother, she shows no interest in where I am from
or where I am going. She is content to have an extra hand in the
kitchen. When her husband comes in from outside with a basket
full of sandy spinach, she tells him to clean it himself, she and
her guest will be drinking beer in the sitting room.
Her husband is a large, good-natured man. He warns me
about drinking too much of his wife's beer.
She sweetens it with honey, he says, but it is poison to a
man to drink too much.
That is just nonsense, Yafeh tells me when we're sitting down
with a mug each of the beverage. It is merely a barley drink that
warms the stomach.
The children are romping on the floor with Behemoth. I
count at least five. I comment on the blessing of children, hoping
to steer the conversation to Hawwa, Mother of All Living. She
nods, absently. Evidently, this blessing comes easily to her.
Your mother says that Zayin is the seventh son of Adam, I
56
Chapter Six
Chapter Six
Chapter Six
62
Chapter Seven
Chapter Seven
in Enoch who knew the real reason why they came to the Land
of Wandering.
Kenaz amuses me with stories of Father Adam's animals. He
is the only man Kenaz knows who has a lion for a pet. His name
is Ariel.
Kenaz shakes his head.
Even the small cats in the forest have claws and can be
vicious. None of us like to get too close to Ariel when we visit
with our Father Adam.
The only animal Father Adam cannot stand is the snake.
Kenaz does not elaborate, but he does not have to.
The sun is low when we see the settlement of Cainan. But
before we head for the town, Kenaz takes me on a detour to see
the star map.
Again, it is in a plain that has been cleared of all trees. The
trees were used to build the homes and I can see from afar that
many of them are two-storeys high.
The star map is breathtaking. It is even larger than Mahalalel's.
Kenaz walks us through it, naming the constellations as we move
among the five or six or seven-storey pyramids.
Yah has named all the stars, he says. But we must be
content only to name what we can see.
Are there stars we cannot see? I ask, surprised. Our sky is
scattered with so many stars I cannot imagine anything more.
Beyond the ones we see, yes, says Kenaz, now leading us
back toward the settlement. Our Father Adam walked with Yah
in the Garden and learnt much.
Much that has been forgotten, I say.
Alas, yes, says Kenaz, nodding. We call on Yah now. To
remember.
The children of Cainan welcome Kenaz and are quick to
inquire about the health of their brother, Mahalalel, and his
children. We are ushered into the largest house to stay the night
with Cainan and his wife, Mualaleth.
I would like to talk with them about the names in the
manuscript, but their oldest daughter quickly starts putting out a
spread of food. She and her husband live here. Her husband is
also a brother of Kenaz, so they have much to discuss while we
eat fruit and bread with a delicious bean dip.
The talk goes late into the night. Behemoth is allowed to sleep
65
Chapter Seven
me and my great-great-grandfather.
That is very kind of you, I say. But I do not want to
intrude upon your privacy.
I suspect these people are outcasts, perhaps children of Seth
who have strayed from the precepts of their community.
But I am wrong. The woman presses me to stay and I agree.
Behemoth is welcome into the home and I see very quickly why.
They allow their animals to be indoors. There is a small wolf in
their sitting room, tamed but incited by the presence of
Behemoth. He and Behemoth growl and circle one another, but
in the end, the wolf decides he is not threatened and returns to
his rug.
An elderly man enters the room and though surprised to have
a guest, quickly makes me feel welcome and inquires about my
journey.
I tell him I have been traveling among the sons of Seth,
intending to go as far as Father Adam and Hawwa, Mother of All
Living.
He nods.
We are all their children, he says. We are sitting on solid
wood furniture, well-crafted, while the woman, who has
introduced herself to me as Baat, is preparing us an evening
drink in another room.
Are you a son of Seth? I ask.
No, he says, leaning back. But I find this is the best place
to be. I am a son of Hey.
I recognize the name. The fifth son of Adam.
I want to ask him more but cannot risk being impolite. But he
wants to talk and tells me that he has been growing his nicotiana
almost since the beginning of time. His crop is purchased both
by traders and sons of Seth. The sons of Seth use it for
medicine. The traders, he is not so sure. He suspects they often
use it even when there is no pain to abate. All the other homes in
this tiny settlement are for his sons and their sons.
Baat comes into the room with a wooden tray. She has
prepared a drink unlike any I have every had. It is brown and
strong and although it is bitter, it lifts the spirits. Her great-greatgrandfather says it comes from a bean that they also grow in one
of their fields. They roast the bean and then grind it into powder
to pour boiling water over it. They do not think the traders would
68
Chapter Seven
69
70
Chapter Eight
leep does not come easily. Both the drink and the
conversation have left me longing, longing for something I
have never known and something I do not want to live
without.
But how can I ever hope to dance with the children of Seth
when the only life I know is as a daughter of Cain?
Despite my poor sleep, I want to set out early the next day. I
am eager to continue my journey.
But Baat's great-great-great grandfather gives me a disturbing
warning. I am entering the land of the flying lizards. He nods
toward Behemoth and says he will not be much good to me and
will probably cower behind my robes.
Over a breakfast of raspberries and bread and more of the
dark beverage, he tells me that he and his sons and their sons
occasionally have to defend their fields from the predators. I
think of the knife in my sack and ask what they use to defend
their fields.
Bows and arrows. The creatures are big enough that they are
hard to miss, even for the poorest shot. Not that it actually harms
them. But it does scare them away, for a time.
71
Chapter Eight
it is done.
She nods, understanding.
Over there . . . She points to something I did not notice. A
large stone construction with a fire blazing on it. It is the altar,
she says. If one wants to, they can offer an animal to Yah as a
sacrifice. My eyes widen.
It is enough to call on his name, she says quickly. Are you a
daughter of Seth?
I hesitate.
I do not know, I say. I do not know my true father and
mother.
She seems content with this reply and says that she is a
daughter of Enosh, son of Seth.
Excited, I ask her if she ever knew of a man who wrote down
the genealogies of the sons of Adam and the sons of Seth.
She nods. Her husband is a scribe.
I explain that I think I am the daughter of such a man, who
lost his wife and only had me. And he died before I even had a
memory of him.
She looks thoughtful.
There have been other scribes, she says. But I do not think
I knew your father.
Where are the manuscripts kept? I ask.
In here, she says, pointing at the pyramid.
I am startled. I did not realize one could enter the structure.
It is where we keep all our maps and all our genealogies.
I think my father may have traveled to the city of Cain to
purchase a metal trunk to store the manuscripts, I say.
It is possible, she says. Although no one would need to do
such a thing now. The traders provide us with bronze and iron
items.
It is incredible to think that my brother's metal objects make it
this far.
Why is there only one pyramid? I ask.
Because there is only one Yah, she says, before drifting off.
As Behemoth and I circumvent the base of the pyramid, we
notice the entranceway. The doorway is set back and it appears to
go down underneath the structure and must come up somewhere
inside it.
But most people do not have their eyes on the pyramid, they
73
are either focused on the sky, or their eyes are closed in private
conversation. I have never done such a thing, but Behemoth and
I move far back from the pyramid and then I close my eyes and
do what the daughter of Enosh said, I call on the name of Yah.
Oh Yah, creator of all. Yah, creator of all the children of
Adam. Oh Yah, our Elohim. My Elohim.
Behemoth breaks the reverence of the moment with a bark. I
see why and stand in awe.
Across the horizon comes a mighty sight, one of the flying
lizards Baat's great-great-great grandfather warned me about.
Had I been alone, I would have shrunk in terror. But standing
among the sons of Seth, I feel a strange fearlessness, as if I am
seeing one of the wonders of Yah.
Each wing of the great dragon could cover ten men and his
body looks almost as large as Behemoth's mother, though it is far
more narrow and suited for flight. He swoops across the plain,
steering clear of the pyramid, while all the children of Seth stand,
watching. Behemoth is barking by my side, but I hardly notice.
When he has disappeared from sight, we all return to our
worship. But as awesome as this pyramid is and as wonderful as it
is to stand among the children of Seth, I do not feel that I have a
right to be here until I know who I am. And for that, I must
continue on.
Still heading west, Behemoth and I take a path through a
forest. I do not trust myself to be brave should I see the flying
dragon by myself.
Again, we have a night in the woods. There are smaller
animals that visit us. Small furry creatures that must have been
named by our Father Adam, but I am not familiar with. But they
do not threaten us and even if one cautiously moves closer,
Behemoth sends it off with a bark.
The night passes without incident and in the morning we
carry on. My supplies are gone so apart from a drink from the
Pishon, we do not have a breakfast.
When we come out of the forest we are in a bright world. The
fields are cultivated with all sorts of foods barley and other
grains, green lettuces, a wide assortment of vegetables. There is a
vineyard in the distance and an orchard beyond that.
I see an older man, who looks close in age to Baat's greatgreat-great grandfather. He is working in one of the fields and as
74
Chapter Eight
But what brought you this far from your family and home,
dear child? he asks. Are you hungry? he adds.
Yes, Father, I am.
He nods his head to follow him. Soon we are all on a carpet
between the fields, drinking water and eating bread dipped in the
oil of olives, seasoned with field herbs.
And we are joined by Ariel.
At first, I am terrified. Behemoth growls in a way I have never
heard him do before. But Adam soothes both animals. Behemoth
gets a comforting pat on the head and Ariel is coaxed to sit down
beside Father Adam.
Adam asks me again why I have come so far.
I tell him that I have always known about the manuscript but
that it is only recently that I found out that it belonged to my true
father.
He nods, understanding. I have the sense that there is very
little that would surprise Father Adam.
I would have hesitated to make such a journey, I say.
Except that I recently became engaged to be married. But I did
not want to become entangled until I knew who I was.
When you know who you are, will you return to your
husband-to-be? he asks.
I am silent.
Why did you run away, daughter? he asks, gently.
I did not feel worthy of the love shown to me by Semjaza, I
say, trying to answer as honestly as possible.
Adam takes this in.
Semjaza? he says. That is an unusual name.
I nod.
He is an unusual man. He is not a son of Cain. He came
from somewhere else. He says he came from the stars. I laugh
but quickly realize Adam does not find it amusing.
From the stars, he repeats, more to himself.
I nod again.
He came to Enoch and I do not know why he chose me. I
only know there are women more beautiful than me.
Adam looks at me, appraisingly.
Perhaps he had a different reason. Tell me about the
manuscript.
I do better than that. I pull it out of the sack, unwrap the
76
Chapter Eight
animal skins and hand it to him. He wipes his hands on his tunic
before accepting it.
It takes him a few minutes to skim it and when he is done he
looks at me.
If this manuscript is your father's, then you are a daughter of
Seth, he says. Only the children of Seth gather information like
this. They store it in that pyramid of theirs. They have records of
everything. I am sure that your father was sent to the city of Cain
to get the records of all the births there. To date, I do not think
anyone ever has.
He came to purchase a trunk, I say.
That would only be part of his mission, Adam assures me,
carefully returning the manuscript to animal skins and handing it
back to me. Only the traders visit Enoch and they do not care
about genealogies. But tell me more about Semjaza.
I tell Father Adam everything I can think of and it is my
impression that he is growing more and more concerned as I talk.
When I conclude with the story of Semjaza's brothers on the
road to Enoch, he shakes his head, though he does not speak.
When he finally does, he says, May I offer you advice,
daughter?
Of course, I say, leaning forward.
Do not return to Enoch, he says.
My eyes widen.
I do not ask why and he does not seem to want to talk further
although we finish our meal in a congenial silence.
When we are done and are back on our feet, I ask him if he
has any idea who my father was.
Hawwa would know, he says, confirming my belief that a
mother knows all her children. Or my son, Seth, would know.
You can find Hawwa beyond the trees. He points to some lovely
trees with white bark.
Father Adam returns to his fields, Ariel curls up for a nap and
Behemoth and I carry on. Our journey's end is just beyond the
trees!
Hawwa's home is made of cedar logs. Although it is twostoreys high, it is larger than any house I have seen on my
journey. Even the richest people in Enoch did not have homes of
this size, although they had more luxurious dwellings. This house
77
Chapter Eight
80
Chapter Nine
Chapter Nine
83
84
Part Two
85
86
Chapter Ten
pause in my raking.
Chaya has brought us out a sweet lemon drink to refresh
our thirst.
Mahalalel and I are expanding his garden. He loves my
aubergine and tomato dish and wants to include those vegetables
in his garden. Chaya wants some different kinds of mint for tea.
She is enchanted by the stories I am able to tell about Father
Adam and Hawwa and their household. She has never gone
further than the Great Pyramid where the Tigris and Pishon
meet.
Hawwa herself escorted me here to my new home. It was her
season for visiting her children and I was invited to accompany
her. The event brought out all the children of Mahalalel,
including the quiet Jared.
I remember the visit well.
Hawwa took a special interest in Jared, requesting that he
escort her to his home down the river. Jared blushed and they
headed off down the path.
Chaya was amused.
What is it? I asked her.
87
Chapter Ten
Jared agrees.
When we arrive at his house, he takes me on a tour of his
estate.
Like Mahalalel, he has an extensive garden. He is particularly
proud of a patch of asparagus. None of his brothers have it in
their gardens.
I admire his orchard. It is an impressive mix of trees
peaches, apples, pears, almonds, hazelnut.
Whatever his shortcomings are socially, there is nothing
lacking about his industriousness.
The house itself is two storeys and sturdily built.
Then we take a walk through the forest on the other side of
his home. I gasp when we come out of the woods.
It is the plain where his star map is to be. The amount of
labour it takes to create one of these is evident in even this
earliest stage. The field is covered with felled trees. That would
explain Jared's muscles. I have no doubt that the head of his ax
was purchased from the traders and made by my brother, TubalCain.
My brothers will come and help me move the trunks, he
says to me. It is not something one has to do until one is
married. But I wanted to start.
I nod.
But Jared is ill at ease. I do not think I have ever seen a man in
such distress. It puts me in mind of the way Naamah used to
look . . .
Love!
I look at him more carefully. The signs are unmistakable. Jared
looks ill. I have only seen a man ill once. It was in the tents of
Jabal and the man ate some berries that were inedible.
I think fast and make a quick decision. The right decision.
It is awe-inspiring, I say, looking out over the future star
map. It will honour Yah.
Jared relaxes slightly.
Your house is well-built and you have created a beautiful
estate, I continue. There would be no finer place to live.
I am so relieved you said so, says Jared, now actually starting
to look normal. I have brought you here, that is to say, I am . . .
Well, it is hard to find the words . . .
I try to look encouraging.
90
Chapter Ten
Chapter Ten
Yah.
I know, I say. That is why I have no concerns.
I am glad to hear you say it, daughter.
Of course, they all know I abandoned one husband-to-be in
Enoch.
My heart is here, father, I say to him. Yah is here.
Mahalalel shakes his head.
Yah is not here, but perhaps he will return to us.
The people of Yah are here, I say. I will wait with them for
him to appear.
Mahalalel nods.
Well spoken, daughter.
We sip the tea as some of the forest creatures move into the
clearing. Mahalalel abandons his tea to shoo away a small rabbit
who tries to sneak a carrot from the garden.
Father! I cry out, laughing. He is only a baby! How much
can he eat?
He will return to his family and tell them that Mahalalel's
garden is available for all to enjoy, he replies.
I will go get Behemoth, I say, standing up. He will enjoy
chasing away the creatures that try to visit the garden.
I go inside to the courtyard. That's usually where I find
Behemoth, who is spoiled by the entire household with samplings
of food. He is still a companion to me and sleeps at the foot of
my bed.
Behemoth is a willing guard of Mahalalel's garden. He spends
the remainder of the evening dashing toward the forest and
trotting back to me for a pat on the head every time he chases
something away.
Our Father Seth is a kind man who spurns all ceremony.
He arrives on foot accompanied only by one of his younger
sons. They are touring all the settlements of the eldest sons. He is
embraced by Mahalalel and then we are all lined up so that he can
greet all his children and meet any new additions to the family.
I am greeted with special warmth. I think it has somehow
been conveyed to him that I will be Jared's wife and thus, the
mother of a new settlement.
A lavish meal is served outside the house and then we all
convene to Mahalalel's star map.
93
Chapter Ten
Seth stays with us for many days and goes for leisurely walks
with everyone in his family. I, too, get to visit with him. Jared and
I walk through the forest with him, arriving at Jared's settlement
and ending up at the future star map. The final night of Father
Seth's visit will be here and that is when our engagement will be
officially announced.
Once seated on one of the logs scattered in the field, Father
Seth turns from the topic of life at Mahalalel's settlement and
asks me to tell him my story. No detail is too small for him. He
craves all news of his Rasujal, his lost great-grandson, and cries
gently when I tell the story that I only recently heard myself, the
story of how Lamech killed my father for injuring him. He
acknowledges, however, that though the sons of Cain are without
Yah, I was well treated.
Like Father Adam, the presence of Semjaza and his brothers
in Enoch is disturbing to him.
We have genealogies of all the children of Adam, except for
Cain, he says, But I know of no one named Semjaza. Now, if
he were a son of Cain, it would be understandable because no
one since Rasujal has ventured there to gain knowledge of the
children of Cain. But Semjaza and his brothers are not from
Enoch.
I feel a chill.
Oh Yah! Seth suddenly cries out.
What is it, Father Seth? asks Jared. He does not like the
story of my engagement to Semjaza, but in all fairness, he knows
I had very little to do with it.
Think, my son! says Seth turning to him. If they did not
come from the earth, where did they come from?
Surely it is not possible that Semjaza and his brothers really
did come from the stars? says Jared.
Did he ever speak of his mother? Seth asks me.
I shake my head.
No, only of his father.
The father that dwells among the stars, says Seth grimly.
Why would they choose to live among the children of Cain?
asks Jared.
They seek a city as far away as possible from Yah, says Seth.
We still have his sheltering presence here. Though often it is
unseen.
95
96
Chapter Eleven
among the sons of Seth, known to spend most of his time in the
Great Pyramid, but as a direct descendant, I can expect him to
attend my wedding.
The possibility that Father Adam and Hawwa will attend is
also high. Though they now have too many descendants to attend
each wedding, everyone hopes that they might make the journey
for this one.
Dinah, my adopted mother, sitting beside Mahalalel who is
beside Seth, puts forth the worry that Semjaza may show up too,
to claim his wife-to-be. She has a full scenario worked out in her
mind. The nosey traders will inquire about who is getting married
and pass the news up and down the river and even as far as
Enoch. Semjaza will hear of it and come here to drag me back to
the city of Cain. Chaya is rolling her eyes, but I can tell she is just
as concerned. I am grateful that Jared is far out of hearing-range,
out beyond the light of the fire, discussing the star map with
Kenaz and his other brothers.
Seth quickly dismisses the fear as absurd. Semjaza and his
brothers have chosen to be outside of the presence of Yah. They
will not be venturing into the settlements of Seth.
Though this is encouraging to Chaya and her mother, it is
unsettling for me to think of Naamah and Tubal-Cain back in
Enoch with Semjaza and his brothers. As much as I longed to
make this journey to find my true father's family, part of me
wants to make the journey back.
But it is only part of me.
Having come this far and returned to a land that still knows
Yah, I know I cannot go back. In many ways, Chaya and I are
closer to each other than Naamah and I ever were. Chaya is
strong-spirited. She does not overly concern herself with her
outward appearance and seems indifferent to marriage, although
Mahalalel will no doubt choose a cousin for her to marry at some
point.
But as it turns out, I do have an opportunity to hear news of
my family back in Enoch.
The next day, Seth returns to his settlement and preparing for
my new life with Jared begins. Chaya and her mother will plan the
wedding. I am content to leave all details of the day to them. But
Jared is eager to have my participation in making ready our new
home. The exterior is solid wood and built with care. But the
98
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Eleven
few years will be entirely devoted to Jared's star map. Anyone not
doing the actual work will support the workers, providing them
and their families with food. Some of the blocks at the base of
the pyramids will be one hundred tons in weight. The stone is
supplied by the children of Seth's third son, Avanim, who have
quarries in several locations running parallel to the settlements.
They are not close enough to the river to transport the stones by
boat, so for each new settlement, a path must be cut through the
forest to bring in the stones. That has already started, but I will
not see any of it from the direction I am coming.
That is why I am startled when I hear voices, angry male
voices. I am about halfway to Jared's settlement and in the forest,
not on the path, is a trio of men. My first instinct is to turn back.
But Behemoth barks.
The voices stop. The men turn and see me.
Now it is too late.
Behemoth has gotten bigger in the short time we have been
friends but he is nowhere near the size of his mother. He is only
up to my shoulders. Three men with spears could easily bring his
young life to an end. But these men do not have spears. They
have knives.
To my horror, I realize the knives are dripping with blood and
the reason is the crumpled form on the ground. I cannot even
tell whether the person on the ground is male or female, only that
blood is seeping onto the leaves and into the ground.
I turn and run.
Yah, Yah, Yah. It is all I can say. I do not know if he can
hear. I only know that no one else can save me, not Jared, not
Mahalalel and certainly not Behemoth galloping along beside me.
He is not running away, he is only trotting along to keep up with
me. And he almost causes me to trip.
Behind me, I can hear the men.
Their words are a blur of imperatives.
Get her!
Stop her!
Faster, you fool!
But I am running for my life.
It becomes too hard to gasp out to Yah.
But I start to think I may have the advantage. I know the path.
I am lighter on my feet. But then a knife whizzes by me.
103
Not able to stop me, the strategy is to kill me. I realize this
with fresh terror.
To Behemoth, it is just a game of tag. The knife means
nothing to him. I make an instant decision to just keep running
and ignore the knife. The path is too narrow to dodge from left
to right so as I run I am an easy target if these men are skilled
with a knife.
If I were close enough to our settlement to yell, I would use
my last breaths to call for help. But it is too great a distance to
hope that anyone would hear me at this point.
No second knife comes but I will be an absurdly easy prey
when I collapse. Although I have gained slightly, the men behind
me have the same amount of endurance and it is only a matter of
time before I collapse and am faced with three men. Even if
Behemoth can occupy the attention of one man, my prospect of
coming out of this unscathed is low.
If only Kenaz were somewhere in these woods! His bow and
arrow would quickly put an end to the men chasing me, or at
least scare them into turning around.
It occurs to me that if I get out of this alive I will be too
ashamed to tell Jared about it. After all, is this not exactly what he
warned me about?
Oh Yah! I gasp one more time, remembering Jared's
insistence that only his presence was what kept me safe in my
journey.
With that, I feel myself on the edge of collapse.
I run . . . and run . . . and run. And drop.
Behemoth immediately falls on top of me and licks my face.
He thinks it is just good sport.
I can barely breathe. I can hardly be bothered trying. In only a
few moments, the men will be upon me and I will die out here in
the forest, too far from anyone who can help.
But minutes pass and no one appears above me as I lie on my
back, gasping.
I manage to sit up slightly and realize . . . I am alone.
Only Behemoth is with me. The men are gone.
Quickly, I get to my feet. It is possible they are only waiting
out of sight, perhaps behind a tree.
I must keep going.
I stumble forward, on the verge of falling again, but I keep
104
Chapter Eleven
oil. Chaya and her mother are so busy preparing food for the
upcoming wedding that our daily meals have been simple fare. I
have no appetite, but I force myself to reach for the bread like
everyone else, when suddenly, Kenaz practically falls in through
the door.
Like me earlier, he is out of breath. But unlike me, it is not
with terror. It is more an excitement. He and Jared encountered
three men in the woods near the star map, two of whom had
knives.
I hang my head. I know why the third one did not have a
knife.
At the sight of Jared and Kenaz, and particularly, at the sight
of Kenaz's bow and arrow, the men fled into the woods.
Suspicious, Jared and Kenaz had followed their trail and
discovered a body in the woods. The man they had found was
barely alive. He was losing blood, but Kenaz had torn off his
own shirt and stopped the flow. He and Jared had carried the
man the long journey to Mahalalel's settlement, deciding that the
man would be better off here than back alone at Jared's house.
But why? Chaya bursts out. Why would someone do such a
thing?
While my head has been hung in shame, Chaya and her
mother have been listening in horror.
These are becoming violent times, says Kenaz, reaching for
some bread. It is not unusual, particularly in the other
settlements. The man was a trader and had valuables to sell. He
managed to tell us he had shells from the sea, extremely beautiful
apparently. The men who accosted him probably lured him
beyond the river with the promise of a nearby settlement to sell
them too. In any case, he has lost his shells now. He told us he
would have been dead if someone had not come along with a
barking animal that scared away the men.
Perhaps to a man lying on the ground, with multiple stabs
from a knife, that is what it would seem like. My eyes are still on
my lap. Still, it sounds as if some good came from my appearance
at that particular moment.
Where is the man now? demands Dinah.
In my home, says Kenaz, pouring himself some water from
the pitcher. My wife will look after him. He is sleeping
presently.
106
Chapter Eleven
107
108
Chapter Twelve
With this many people present, I feel safe. The story of the
trader in the forest circulates, albeit in hushed tones. There is
even talk that perhaps the settlements should be moved closer
together, for safety.
But Enosh and Sofer quickly dismiss this.
What will become of the star maps if we abandon the
settlements? says Enosh, Seth's eldest son. And so there is no
more talk about the increasing violence.
The oldest man present will perform the wedding ceremony.
Naturally, this would have fallen to Father Adam had he been
here, but he and Hawwa just sent all their love. There is no
reason to feel rejected. They are so busy with those in need
among their own household that they rarely attend any weddings.
Their life would be one endless ceremony if they went to every
celebration of their children.
So it is Seth who will marry me and Jared.
It is a short ceremony, consisting mainly of an oath that we
will live as husband and wife and a reminder that we are
participating in a union that represents the oneness of Yah. But
the celebration are just beginning.
Jared is assisting the other men in creating the largest fire I
have ever seen. When it is done, it rivals the sun itself. But as I
stand, surrounded by women and well-wishers - some eating,
some talking, some just watching I wonder if Yah will ever
return. If the children of Adam are becoming brutal toward one
another, why should he appear in our midst? And now it has
come to the settlements of Seth.
When the fire is the size of one of the smaller pyramids, the
dancing begins.
It starts with singing. There are no harps or flute players such
as my half-brother Jubal once trained, but the voices in the light
of the fire with the darkness behind are enough. The song is one
of praise, rejoicing in Yah and his creation, calling on Yah to walk
among his children once again. Soon there are children of Seth
dancing. They are moving to the music, their dancing reflecting
the song as it alternates between rejoicing and longing. Like the
son of Hey said, no one seems aware of those around him, only
of their own desire for Yah.
At first, I hesitate. But then the dance calls me in. Jared is
already dancing somewhere. There is no one watching me,
110
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Twelve
forgotten.
Behemoth, however, feels differently. When we come to the
spot where the man was on the ground, he dashes off and circles
the area, sniffing the soil.
Jared tells me this is the spot where he and Kenaz found the
trader.
I nod.
He must smell blood, says Jared about Behemoth.
I nod again and take his hand.
And soon we are home.
It feels too late and I feel too tired to think about making an
evening meal. But Jared seems content with more lovemaking
and even promises he will make the morning meal. As we drift
off to sleep, I murmur that we must get some of those beans
cultivated by the sons of Hey down the river. Then we will never
have to worry about being sleepy.
We will not be left to ourselves for the next few years, I
quickly realize.
The very next morning, some of the sons of Seth show up at
our door, ready to work on the star map. They come loaded with
provisions because they will be staying for long periods of time.
True to his word, Jared takes care of the first meal of our
married life, although it is not an intimate meal for two, but more
for twenty.
Some of the men will sleep in our house, but again, others
prefer the outdoors. Still, I will not have a house to myself until
the star map is complete and even then, everyone assures me that
by then I should have a household of children to keep me
company.
Perhaps it is the story of the trader in the woods that makes
everyone eager to comfort me that I will not be alone. And they
do not even know how close I came to a knife in my back that
day myself!
For the first few months, the garden takes all of my time.
Mahalalel, curious to see how the star map is coming along, also
comes with presents for my garden. His greatest gift is some wild
blueberry plants. Kenaz also brings edible plants from the forest
for my garden. I think they both know how many people I have
to feed everyday. Although people come with their own supplies
113
and more are sailed down the river for the workmen, there are
still days when everything seems to be running low and we have
to rely on my garden or mushrooms from the forest. When I am
not in my garden, I am in my courtyard with Tubal-Cain's stove,
baking bread and everything else that has been taught to me since
I left Enoch.
But after a while it is obvious I will be even busier soon. Jared
and I are expecting a child.
Chaya and her mother come to be with me in my final days of
pregnancy. Although Chaya is now engaged to be married to one
of our cousins, she insists on staying with me right up until I give
birth to my first son.
We will call him Enoch, says Jared, holding his son with
obvious pride and affection. Perhaps he will find a way to
connect the sons of Cain with the sons of Seth.
I am honoured that he should pay tribute to the city of my
childhood and to the family that raised me. I long to somehow
pass the message on to Tubal-Cain, Naamah and our mother,
Zillah, that I am now married with a son. I still think about them
and wonder how Naamah's marriage to Semjaza affected the
family of Lamech.
Our second son comes within a year and I name him Rasujal,
after the father I never knew. As they grow, the two boys play and
I cannot help myself from thinking that this must have been how
Hawwa felt watching her two sons together. Who could have ever
imagined that one would turn against the other in jealous anger?
And yet, nowadays, it is not so unbelievable. Though the star
map continues to occupy our time and attention, the reports of
violence among the children of Adam are alarmingly more
frequent. Little do I realize that, in time, there will be even more
disturbing rumours.
114
Part Three
115
116
Chapter Thirteen
although it was at the site of Father Adam's home that the first
murder occurred, now it is the settlements farthest away where
murder has become almost routine.
And it is not just murder.
Among our cousins, I hear reports of angry husbands who
turn on their own wives. It is alarming when even the sons of
Seth seem affected by these times of brutality. For if the sons of
Seth are willing to strike their own wives, I wonder what is going
on among the other sons of Adam? Perhaps it is not just wives,
but children as well. Perhaps a time will come when no one is
safe, even in his or her home.
Despite this, I become pregnant again and cannot help but
rejoice at the thought of another baby to hold. My little ones are
not so little now. Enoch is fourteen and spends most of his time
at the star map, already as strong as some of the men. Many have
commented that he seems especially favoured with strength. But
when I talk to him, he says it is only because he is eager to see the
star map completed.
You do not have to worry, I say, laughing, as I work in the
garden. I have added raspberries and strawberries, as well as
some peanut plants. You have many years before Hawwa takes
you aside and instructs you that it is time to choose a wife.
Hawwa, Mother of All Living, still visits her children and is the
only one to travel unarmed.
Enoch shakes his head.
It is not that, he says. It is Yah. I have seen him.
I almost drop my hoe.
What is that you said? I give him my full attention.
He nods.
He is with us. That is, I think he is with me. I have seen him
at the edge of the forest, watching.
Has anyone else seen him?
Enoch shakes his hand.
No. At least, no one has said anything. But I do not think
they have. When I see him, he is only looking at me.
I feel weak. I have almost forgotten what it is like to long for
Yah. But now it comes back to me and it arrives with such a
feeling of desperation that I almost cannot stay standing. I have
let go of my longing, I realize, because of disappointment. A
hope deferred makes the heart sick. And now my son talks this
118
Chapter Thirteen
way . . .
I am not sure that I will be able to live with any more
disappointment.
But my son does not notice my reaction. So often he is in his
own world anyway, and off he goes now, to the house for some
mint tea and afterward, some playtime with Behemoth.
Behemoth is now taller than our home. Indeed, we had to cut
a path out of the forest for him so he could move freely between
our settlement and the star map where there is more room for
him to roam. My carefree (or some may say, careless) second son,
Rasujal, often rides him back and forth between the two, much to
his father's delight and much to my terror. Behemoth loves all my
children, but high on his back like that, I fear a dreadful fall. At
least I do not fear roaming bandits. Very few of them would be
prepared to take on Behemoth, even though his bark is still worse
than his bite.
I return to the house with a basket of greens, deep in thought.
Yah. Yah at the edge of our forest?
It has been awhile since I went out to see the progress of the
star map. Perhaps I will go today. I will certainly not have the
time when my next child is born.
Absentmindedly, I make lunch for the few people who are in
my home. Most people have taken their midday meal with them
to the star map.
After lunch, I gather up Tikvah and a large blanket for her to
have an afternoon nap on. She can sleep in the shade of one of
the finished pyramids and I can rely on Behemoth to guard her
with his life.
The short walk is enough time for anticipation to build. What
if Yah really is watching this new star map be built?
Jared greets me with an embrace and Tikvah is immediately
scooped up to the shoulders of her uncle, Kenaz.
I would like to walk around the map, I say.
Of course, my love, says Jared. But avoid the north end.
I nod. The north end is active with stone masons and other
workers assembling the base of one of the larger pyramids.
These are the ones that require the rectangular blocks that can be
up to one hundred tons and you do not want to get in their way.
I stroll along the edge of the forest. To everyone else, I
probably look as if I am taking a casual walk. But my heart is
119
Chapter Thirteen
child. Chaya shooed him off to the star map with the assurance
that as soon as the baby was born, Rasujal could gallop on
Behemoth with the news.
And so I re-enter that season of life where all one's energies
are taken up with a new life to care for. But even as I am holding
Pyramides while he drinks, admiring his curly light hair and
enjoying the way his small hand curls around my finger, I am
thinking of Yah. At every birth, there is always someone a
jovial uncle or an exuberant cousin - who says that each new life
is a miracle.
But if it truly is a miracle, why is Yah not present?
I am left with the feeling that he has made us and now keeps
his distance.
My only hope is that Enoch says that he still sees him, and not
always near the star map, but in the forest and once even down
by the river.
And how do you know it is Yah? I ask him.
It is the way he looks at me, is all Enoch says. When I ask
him what he looks like, his physical characteristics, Enoch seems
incapable of providing a description and I do not want to force
the issue.
Part of me knows why Yah does not walk with his children
anymore. I see the reason in my own children. Though Enoch is
aloof from the everyday stresses of life, Rasujal and Tikvah are
so quick to turn on each other over the slightest grievance. They
live with the desire to have their own way at all cost and it is only
Jared stepping in and sternly rebuking them that brings it to an
end. Although I loathe admitting it, even I grow weary of their
continual arguing.
It is to Jared's credit that he continues to patiently supervise
the construction of the star map. Disputes break out on the site
and once it was only Kenaz's bow and arrow that kept two
brothers from attempting fratricide.
It leaves me with a spirit of heaviness and some mornings it is
hard to get out of bed. How can Yah move among us if we are
continually choosing the evil of the Tree of the Knowledge of
Good and Evil, rather than the good?
The Tree of Life remains forever guarded by a flaming sword
and cherubim stand guard at the east of the Garden, though
these are things I have only heard of and never seen. It is Father
121
Adam who told his sons about the flaming sword. No eye but
Father Adam's has seen that.
Baraka! I turn from the courtyard stove at the sound of my
husband's voice. It is unusual to have him home during the day.
He takes his midday meal at the site of the star map with the
other workers.
All praise to Yah that you are safe! He gives me a quick
embrace. Where are the children?
I am startled.
Pyramides is sleeping, I say. He is a healthy two years old
now. Enoch is with you, is he not? Jared nods.
But the others? he says, almost sounding impatient.
Rasujal is in the forest picking berries . . .
We must find him, quick! And Jared is off before I can
point out that Tikvah is in the corner of the courtyard, making a
batch of dough for the sweet honey cakes she loves so much.
My legs feel weak and I am torn between staying in the house
with my two children and dashing off after my husband.
As it turns out, Jared does not have to go far to find Rasujal.
He is already approaching the house with his basket of wild
blackberries. Although he is almost the size of a man, Jared
practically grabs him off his feet and pushes him into the house.
He calls out an order to me to shut and barricade the door before
running off back in the direction of the star map.
There are only two other people in the house with me. They
are young men, second cousins, who have been sent by their
families with more food supplies to feed the workers.
Quickly, they push the table and the chairs up against the door
while I run around closing shutters. What on earth is going on? I
feel sick. I am not sure whether it is sick at not knowing what is
happening or whether it is sick with fear. In any case, it does not
matter. My small family, along with our cousins, take refuge in the
courtyard.
In the distance, we hear shouts. They are not friendly shouts
and I have no idea what to make of them. Behemoth, too big to
be in the house anymore, is somewhere out there and I hear him
barking. It is a bark I have never heard come from him. It is
almost a roar, but it is unmistakably Behemoth.
Only Pyramides does not seem concerned.
122
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Thirteen
125
126
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fourteen
was Semjaza the Nephilim. Is it possible that these are the same
people?
Quite possible, I say. A long time ago, when I left the city
of Cain, I had a chance to see the brothers of Semjaza. They are
alarming in their stature. But why is it that the traders come to
you now? The Nephilim have been in the city of Cain for many
years.
These are not traders who travel to the sons of Cain. They
have encountered these giants in the perimeter settlements. They
are alarmed, says Seth. When a man is so much larger than
yourself, all you can rely on is his honour. But I was unable to
give them any comfort. There are no Nephilim in our records of
the children of Adam. If they are not sons of Cain, then they are
not of this world. And not knowing who they are, I cannot tell
the traders whether they are honourable men.
I happen to glance at my son. Though my husband's eyes are
full of concern, my son is calm. It would not surprise me in the
least if he and Yah have not already talked about the Nephilim.
We must pray these men choose to settle where they are,
says Seth, standing up. If the traders are frightened of them, I
can only imagine the panic that would spread over the earth if
they chose to explore elsewhere.
Continuing to discuss the matter, he, Jared and Enoch then
drift toward the path that will take them to the star map.
My mind is spinning. I would so like to hear more news about
Naamah and Tubal-Cain in Enoch. But it does not sound like the
traders are going there these days.
135
136
Chapter Fifteen
Semjaza.
But what is he doing here, in this quiet forest, far from the city
of Cain?
I swallow fear.
I will not be afraid!
Yah is nearby. Yah protected me as I journeyed here.
Semjaza, I say, trying to speak with a tranquility that
matches the forest around us. What brings you here, among the
sons of Seth?
I seek you, my lady.
I do not like this idea. And he is still using that familiar, my
lady.
My understanding is that you are the husband of Naamah
now, I say. I casually crouch down and pick up some of the
mushrooms I dropped and return them to my basket.
I am, he agrees.
I stand up straight.
My sister, is she . . . well?
Your sister lives, he says, coolly. I seek another. That is all.
My sister has not born you children? I ask.
She is the mother of five of my sons, he replies.
Then you have no reason to seek another, I say. I decide the
mushrooms are not important and the first chance I get, I will
return to the house. And barricade the door.
You were always my first choice, he says.
Perhaps, I say, trying to sound calm as I begin making my
way back to the path. But when I agreed to be your wife, I
believed that I was a daughter of Cain. As I prepared for the
wedding, I learnt I was a daughter of Seth.
Should that matter? he asks, as he walks alongside me.
It did to me.
We walk in silence.
There are so many things I could ask. Does he know I am
married to Jared? How did he find me? Why is he no longer
satisfied with Naamah?
But I do not want to break the silence. I want to remain aloof.
Unfortunately, I am quite a distance from the house. Even if I
were to shout out now, no one would hear me. And even if they
did, who would come to my aid? Tikvah and Kalah? No, I decide.
I must put my trust in Yah and in my position as the wife of
138
Chapter Fifteen
Jared. But I still feel a terror from knowing I ran away from an
engagement and did not disentangle myself with honour.
The sons of men treat their wives with cruelty, says
Semjaza.
Mine does not, I say.
More silence for a stretch.
You bring forth children in pain, he says.
True, I say.
I do not desire more children, he says. There are ways of
avoiding conception.
I am married, I say. As are you.
I weary of Naamah, he says.
Then you will weary of me, I say.
I would never weary of you, my lady.
I should not even hint that there is the slightest possibility that
I will consider a marriage with him. I want to tell him that Jared is
a good man and I will not leave him, but I also do not want to
put Jared in a dangerous position. There are men who have been
killed for their wives, sometimes even with their wife's complicity.
My life is here, I say, instead.
Then I will make my life here, he says, taking the basket of
mushrooms from me. Why should you be like a servant girl and
make the soup when you can be the daughter of a god?
I am a daughter of Seth, I say sharply. At the same time, his
words are both disturbing and enlightening. Daughter of a god?
That can only mean that Semjaza believes himself to be the son
of a god. What god? Surely not Yah? Even as I walk along this
familiar path, trying to think of a way of escaping Semjaza, I am
thinking ahead to when I will be able to report this to our Father
Seth.
Your beauty makes you a daughter of god, he says.
This is no place for you then, I say, deciding to speak
bluntly. This is a life of work and worship to Yah.
It is as if a dark cloud passes in front of his face.
Yah has left you, he says. I offer you something better.
If I did not know that my son is at this very minute
somewhere with Yah, I would be momentarily tempted. The
world certainly feels abandoned by Yah. Though I know it is not
true.
My place is here, I say.
139
Chapter Fifteen
my garden are lovely, they are usually small. These are large, some
of them even the size of grapes.
I taste one.
Sweet!
Sweeter than any I have gotten from my own bushes.
I sink to the ground beside the basket.
With Semjaza lurking around somewhere and a son who cares
little for my needs, my whole body has felt weak these last few
weeks.
But here is a gift from Yah. He most certainly knows how
many people will be arriving here in the next few days.
I put my arm around the basket and just hold onto it. And I
cry quietly.
Our settlement swells from one home and few workmen, to
an encampment for nearly all of the sons of Seth. Though many
do not even bother to visit the star maps closest to their own
settlements, this new one is an excuse for a festival and a chance
to get caught up on family news.
Our Father Enosh will lead the activities but Jared is needed
right beside him. So I am left to look after the food, with some
help from Tikvah. Kalah is passed around from doting relative to
doting relative. She is the youngest one at this festival.
Chaya attends with all her children, her husband . . . and her
husband's new wife, who is now expecting a child. It is awkward,
but I am spared from it by having so much to do. The blueberries
are a success, with many people commenting on how sweet and
delicious they are. But my greatest hope is that Yah himself will
show up tomorrow night at the dance of the star map.
Once again, it is like the old days. People campout under the
stars. There are too many of us to worry about marauders. But
the conversations still centre on the bandits who have menaced
the other settlements and are now even permeating the
settlements of Seth.
Seth himself stays in our home and confides in me that he
hates the talk of his children.
Perhaps if we talked more about Yah, he would move among
us again.
I agree.
I have a chance to tell him about Semjaza in the forest and he
142
Chapter Fifteen
is concerned.
Stay strong, my daughter, he says. You did the right thing
when you came to be among your own people. There is nothing
dishonourable about your choice and Yah will bless you for
having chosen to be among his people.
I thank him for his words of encouragement.
Father, I say, hesitantly.
We are mostly alone in the house. A fire has been built outside
our home and the majority of people are out there, talking and
laughing.
Yes, daughter?
I do not know how to say it. I do not think even Enoch has
told anyone. But I think Father Seth should know.
Enoch walks with Yah, I blurt out.
Seth's eyes widen.
He is silent for a moment. Then there is joy on his face.
Yah be praised! he bursts out. Yah be praised! He has not
forgotten us!
But, Father . . . I take his hand. Why does Yah not come
to us all? Me or you, for example.
Seth covers my hand with his.
That might not be for us to know, he says. It is enough to
know that he is still here.
I nod.
It is true what he says. Then I tell Seth about the blueberries.
Seth starts to laugh. That makes me start to laugh. And then
we are both laughing so hard that we are weeping.
Yah provides, Seth says at last, wiping tears from his eyes.
I nod.
Yah provides.
After my talk with Seth, somehow I feel that Yah will not
dance with us. I wake up in the morning with this new thought. It
is not a disappointment as much as a conviction. Perhaps Yah will
never move again among the sons of Seth, but we can be grateful
that he still moves among some of them. Or even just one of
them.
But my longing for Yah is just as intense as it ever was. Maybe
even stronger.
Jared is not in bed beside me. Obviously, he has risen early to
143
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Fifteen
147
148
Chapter Sixteen
omehow the cart gets pulled to the star map. I do not know
how. I have no strength left in my body after my encounter
with Semjaza.
But Jared is too occupied to notice my weakened state. There
are trees being felled for the giant bonfire. There is some kind of
an argument going on over the location of the fire on the ground
in relation to the sun.
I do not want to walk back through the forest alone. I ask
Jared if Rasujal can be spared to accompany me back to the
house. There is still work to be done there.
Thinking that it is just a matter of hauling back the cart, Jared
says that he will bring the cart back himself and that every man is
needed to prepare for tonight. Then he hurries away.
No doubt there is truth to what Semjaza has said. But, on the
other hand, I do not have bruises on my arms like some of the
other wives here.
Semjaza must have other ways to occupy himself because my
walk back to the house is a solitary one.
Oh Naamah, my sister! How your heart must be breaking
now!
149
Chapter Sixteen
grace. He is not seeking Yah, he has found him and now his
whole being is dedicated to him. While the other men his age
seem eager to talk to their female cousins, he is in a world of his
own.
And soon I am also in a world of my own.
If I cannot have Yah, then at least I can have no one else. For
the time I am moving to the music, I forget that I am the wife of
Jared. I forget that there was every a man named Semjaza. I
forget that I am the mother of Enoch, Rasujal, Tikvah,
Pyramides and Kalah. There is only me. Touching the edges of
the universe and maybe even catching a glimpse of the shadow
of Yah.
With morning comes sleep. Many people fall asleep at the star
map. I have certainly brought enough food that those who are
still awake when morning comes can have a meal before their
sleep. After that, they will have to return to the house.
It is Enoch who helps me carry some of the empty baskets
back to the settlement. Kalah has long since been taken home by
Tikvah. My other sons are still with their cousins.
Typically, Enoch is quiet. Like his father, he does not speak
unless there is a reason to.
Someday you will have your own star map, I say to him. It is
not an idle comment. I hope to learn what it is that he is hiding
from the rest of us.
There will be no more star maps, Mother.
So that is it.
Yah must have told him. But why? Why will there be no more
star maps? I do not ask. It is enough that Enoch knows, for the
heavy burden of building the map would have fallen to him. But
what will the sons of Enosh say when Enoch marries and does
not carry on the tradition?
My mind is too sleepy to give it much thought.
Though Jared is not in our room when I return to the house,
Kalah is in her little bed. I fall down on my bed and almost
immediately join her in sleep.
151
152
Chapter Seventeen
ur settlement is still.
I have never experienced it this quiet.
There have always been a few workmen at the house
and of course, many at the map. But the map is completed, the
workmen are home and all our guests long-gone.
Even Jared seems at a loss as to what to do next.
He turns to our sons, who are now grown men.
It is a surprise to him that Enoch is not around very often. I
think he assumed that Enoch was always here, helping me in
some way.
So it is Rasujal who gets his attention. Jared tries to engage
him in the task of maintaining the star map. There are always
minor repairs to be made, grass to be cut, and it is the second
and third sons who help their father. The first son will move away
and start his own settlement someday.
But Rasujal is more interested in his new bow and arrow from
his Uncle Kenaz and which of his cousins he will marry. He also
wants to know when we will start building our wall.
Our wall? Jared repeats.
Our wall of protection, Rasujal says impatiently. We are just
153
our family, seated along a large table, for breakfast. In past days,
twenty, or more, other people could have been here with us.
But we hardly have anything to protect, Jared protests. We
are only one house!
There will be more houses in the future, Rasujal insists.
And we should build our wall before the violence comes to us!
Perhaps it is just to keep him busy, but Jared puts Rasujal in
charge of the wall.
And soon Rasujal is teaching us all the art of mixing mortar to
hold stones together. Some settlements have protected
themselves with wooden fences, but we have many unused
smaller stones leftover from the pyramids.
Only the gate is wooden and when our wall is completed,
Jared insists that the gate always be left open. Rasujal is disgusted.
What is the point of a secure wall if you leave the gate
open? he demands.
But Jared is adamant.
We are guardians of the star map. Some people will come
through here on their way to visit it. It should not be closed to
them, no matter what time of day or night they arrive.
No matter. Behemoth, though older now, sleeps within the
walls. He can easily step over them if he needs to get out. He is
truly a gentle giant.
But Rasujal has different plans.
He wants to breed lizards, smaller but more vicious than
Behemoth. They will make terrifying guards and he can sell them
to all the settlements around.
I do not like the idea, but Jared says that since he shows no
inclination to do anything else, we might as well let him. And so,
wooden cages are constructed all around the perimeters of our
property. With some help from his Uncle Kenaz and some of the
cousins, Rasujal takes his bow and arrow and goes out into the
woods, far beyond our settlement, to capture some dragons to
breed. The bow and arrow is just for defence. So as not to harm
the beasts, they are going to be captured with nets.
It is a bloody undertaking and I expect that many of them will
return with injuries. But none of them turn down Rasujal's
proposal. There is much money to be made in settlement security.
Sure enough, when they return several weeks later, though
their cages are full, their arms are scratched and one cousin even
154
Chapter Seventeen
came close to losing a leg after a dragon bit a chunk of his flesh
out. His cousins had to carry him home on a bed of wooden
boughs. Mercifully, the wound healed instead of becoming
infected, though the man will walk with a limp for the rest of his
life.
Meanwhile, Jared is urging his sons to choose wives who seek
after Yah.
Enoch nods with gravity as this idea is discussed over dinner.
Rasujal, on the other hand, says he knows who he will be
marrying and names one of his cousins. Nava is extraordinarily
beautiful, but as far as I know, has little interest in the ways of
Yah.
I will ask her to be my wife when my first dragon lays an
egg, he says.
The prospect of him bringing this girl back to the settlement
and having her live in my house until Rasujal is able to build his
own house does not cheer me. I have never been able to talk to
Nava on any topic and I have never seen her assist her mother in
any way.
But Enoch is quiet.
It is not until a few weeks later that he tells his father that he
has asked one of his cousins at the settlement of Mahalalel to
marry him. He spent some time there and returned with this
news. Edna is a quiet girl and has none of the beauty of Rasujal's
future wife. But I could not be more pleased. She is the girl one
always sees working in the background. And at the festival of the
star map, she was one of the few younger people dancing around
the fire. She will be a welcome addition to our family.
Jared is slightly puzzled.
He could have any of the women among our settlements,
he says, that night after his talk with Enoch. We are alone in our
bedroom. Kalah is now a young woman with a room of her own.
I nod. Enoch is handsome.
But Edna is so . . .
He does not have to say it. Edna is plain compared to her
sisters.
I smile.
Perhaps Enoch sees her heart, I say.
I suppose that is it, says Jared, as he climbs into bed and
pulls a light cotton sheet over us both, although the temperature
155
Chapter Seventeen
to her.
I shoo her away, saying I am selfish to keep her all to myself.
She laughs and says we will talk more later.
I am left to wonder if the presence of Father Adam will draw
Yah out to dance with his children once again.
A creation without a Creator.
I am bitterly disappointed. Though our son is now married
and Edna is a blessed welcome in my home, Yah did not appear
at Enoch's wedding.
I know Hawwa is as disheartened as I am. Though she keeps a
pleasant face when we embrace and say goodbye, I can read the
frustration in her eyes.
I do not know how others survive the loss of Yah.
It is Edna who explains it to me.
We work together in the courtyard while Jared and Enoch
construct their new home.
They live as if the creation is all that there is, she says to me.
They speak with awe about the grass and the trees and the sky
and forget that it was Yah who made it. My own mother speaks
about flowers as if they are sacred.
You are so right, I say, as I take this in. I have been alone in
my settlement for so long that I have not realized this until now.
Edna's mother has her whole house surrounded by flowering
bushes. Anything that blossoms or blooms is arranged with
stunning effect.
At Enoch's wedding under the stars, people spoke as if the
stars themselves were worthy of worship.
It is the pain of not having Yah, I say. They turn to his
creation as a substitute.
Edna shakes her head as she adds some more flour to the
bread dough.
It is not to compensate for his loss. They no longer desire
him. His creation has become enough for them.
It is bewildering, but I know it is true. I would gladly suffer
desire all my life and never have it satisfied, than to long for
anything less than Yah.
Edna brings a new addition to the settlement. She has
domesticated a wildcat. Hatoul is small and lovely, but ferocious
to those she does not count as her friends. She is even willing to
157
Chapter Seventeen
160
Chapter Eighteen
remember Roeh's sheep and his lively mother, the first two
people I met who were not children of Cain.
My dress for Rasujal's wedding is made of soft wool. I go
all out and even dye it with the juice of some of my raspberries
which makes it a light pink, not unlike the colour of some of the
flowers provided by Edna's mother.
But no one is looking at me. It is the bride who has everyone's
attention in her long, flowing silk robe, with golden thread woven
around the edges.
Whereas a wedding in the past celebrated a love of Yah for his
people and the idea that a man and a woman represent Yah's
image, this wedding is all about the love of Rasujal for Nava. It is
praised as if his love is something to be sought after. I know my
son and know that he is not worthy of such homage.
More tellingly, there is no star dance scheduled for the
evening, only an abundance of food and talk. I can barely stand it
the conversation centring on personal achievements and
ambitions - and return to the house early to check on Edna and
her new son, Methuselah. Edna has been spared the bother of
finding a dress for this occasion, having given birth only a week
161
ago.
Enoch has given his son a peculiar name, Methuselah. It
means, In the year he dies, it will be judgement. Edna is well
aware that her son has an unusual name. Although she agrees
with me, she does not speak of it any further. I suspect that
Enoch is more open with her than he is with me. Not that there
is distance between us, but it is inevitable that a husband and wife
should share more.
Although Nava's mother was the force in creating this whole
wedding, she is nowhere in sight when it comes time to clean up.
Jared does not want the star map cluttered with remnants of
the wedding and much to Rasujal's disgust, he has his second son
out of bed and with him the next day, cleaning up the plain. I
become the owner of a large tent for which I have no use. Folded
up, it is compact and I haul it upstairs to give to Nava. Perhaps
her mother can use it again for another wedding.
Knocking on the door, I hear a sweet voice say, Come in!
Nava is seated in front of a glass, running a comb through her
hair.
Oh, it's only you, she says. The voice has completely
changed.
Yes, I say, deciding to ignore the rudeness. After all, we will
have to live in this settlement for the rest of our earthly lives. I
drag the rolled-up tent into the large room. I have come to
return this.
She glances at it.
I have no use for it, she says.
Perhaps your mother would like it back . . .
Nava shrugs. She is twisting her hair on the top of her head
and examining the effect in the mirror.
If there is another wedding . . .
Nava shrugs again.
If there is another wedding, she can get another one.
OK, my dear, I say. I pick up the heavy bundle and decide
that perhaps the traders will have some use for it.
Shut the door on you way out . . . oh, never mind. I will do it
myself, I hear my daughter-in-law say behind me.
I shake my head. Life was never perfect, but I wonder if I will
be able to tolerate this new situation.
Not wanting the tent just sitting in my courtyard, I take it
162
Chapter Eighteen
straight outside. Jared and Rasujal are back at the star map, this
time to retrieve the tables. At least the remains of the food and
the flowers can be left behind.
I load the tent into my cart and go over to a large shed that
now houses our ponies. At one point, I decided that if Edna can
tame a wildcat, I can tame a few ponies and so now they are at
our disposal whenever we need them.
I know I am being foolish, but I decide to just head for the
river and wait for the traders. Part of me is weary, weary of this
life without Yah. It makes me indifferent to my own safety. My
children need me less-and-less and now I have the prospect of
living with a vain, self-centred daughter-in-law until my son
builds her a house. Since Rasujal is only ambitious when it comes
to projects that interest him, I may have Nava in my home for
quite some time.
The forest that runs along the river is not as dense as the one
that borders the star map. But there are still some useful things to
harvest along the way. I spot an active beehive up in a tree and
make note of its location to tell Jared. I pause to pick some
almonds from a bush. They will be appreciated if the traders take
awhile. I also pick some asparagus. It will make a quick evening
meal.
I arrive at the riverbank. The majestic Tigris, impassable
without a boat, is soothing after the troubles of the settlement. I
unharness the pony so he can graze among the tall grass. I sit
down and watch the river, but as time passes, it is obvious I will
be here awhile.
While I wait, I harvest some arrowroot that grows along the
river. The boiled rootstock makes a pleasant change from
potatoes.
Just as I am beginning to get edgy, thinking that Jared will
return and find me gone, I see a trader's boat in the distance. The
current is strong today and it is not long before I am waving
them down to stop at our small dock.
Mercifully, these are not the type of men with the knives and
the scars from fighting with the knives. These are the kind of
traders who deal in items very much like the tent I want to trade
with. They have items that are useful, but not especially valuable.
The head-trader is interested in the tent, but of course, it is of
little value to him unless he can find someone who wants it.
163
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Eighteen
discussed with Enoch. I wish I could be the one to talk with Yah,
but it is enough to know that Yah is nearby. If Yah is watching,
then I most certainly do not have to fear the lurking presence of
Semjaza. Yah created the heavens and the earth. Though Semjaza
may not be a son of Adam, he is certainly a creation of Yah.
What manner of creation is anyone's guess.
I go inside to my quiet house. Nava is, no doubt, in her room
fixing her hair. Rasujal is out with his ferocious lizards. Kalah is
staying with Enoch and Edna, to help with the household chores
in these early days of Methuselah's life.
Tikvah is probably in the courtyard.
But when I pass by the central terrace, it is empty.
She must be in her room.
As far as I am concerned, while Jared is away, Nava can take
full responsibility for feeding her Rasujal. Tikvah and I can
prepare our own meals.
I go upstairs to let Tikvah know that though I will bake bread
everyday, she and I can eat as we please and not at any set time.
But Tikvah is not in her room.
I knock on Nava's door, just in case she's visiting with her
sister-in-law. Nava, who does no work around here, is annoyed
that I interrupt her nap. I am informed that Tikvah is not there
and the door almost gets shut in my face.
She must be out, strolling the settlement, maybe with Rasujal.
But Rasujal is feeding his lizards and Tikvah is not with him.
Now I am starting to get alarmed.
Despite that I have never known my daughter to go to the star
map by herself, I hurry along the path to see if she is there.
There is always a first time. Perhaps my daughter is like me, and
longs to get closer to Yah . . .
But my daughter is nowhere to be seen. I cover the whole
plain and circle the larger pyramids, but there is no one here.
My eyes cannot help but wander over the edges of the forest,
but there is no Yah either. I return to the settlement, now
thoroughly alarmed.
My son has just told me that Yah is watching me and I have
nothing to fear, but now I am more afraid than I have ever been.
My first stop is at Enoch's house.
Enoch answers and immediately understands my concern. He
does not need too many words. Tikvah is missing. That is all he
168
Chapter Eighteen
needs to know.
He goes to talk to Rasujal and returns to report that Rasujal
has not seen her all day. Edna is preparing me a soothing cup of
raspberry leaf tea.
Did Yah say anything about this? I demand. I cannot help it.
It is my daughter we are talking about, not me. For myself, I do
not care if harm comes to me, but if anything happens to
Tikvah . . .
Enoch hesitates before speaking.
Yah can be trusted, he says, joining us at the table and
accepting a cup of tea from Edna.
I know, I say impatiently. But these are violent times.
Someone could have come from outside and taken her . . .
Again, my son hesitates.
When he does speak, it is with regret.
It is my belief she went off willingly.
Willingly? What do you mean? Where would she go . . .?
I have seen her, he says.
When? I demand. If he has seen her, why did he not tell
me?
Many times. Out in the forest.
Speak, Enoch! I say, putting my cup down on the table.
What is it that I do not know?
With someone.
With who? I ask, impatiently. A man of few words is fine,
so long as one does not need information. One of her cousins?
Enoch shakes his head.
The one known as Semjaza.
169
170
Chapter Nineteen
I am stunned.
That my daughter would keep something from me is
insignificant compared to Yah keeping it from me.
What manner of God is Yah? I demand.
Enoch smiles.
When you know him as I do, you know there is only good in
him. And whether Tikvah comes to harm is a small matter. She
does not serve Yah.
The truth of this hits me like a stone.
But I do not think Yah would let harm come to her, says
Enoch quickly. For your sake, Mother.
I look down at my hands. I hardly know what to say.
But that is only my opinion. Enoch whispers this last
statement.
I groan.
Yah is compassionate, says Enoch. And then he falls into
silence. It is probably the longest discussion he and I have ever
had.
And I understand what he is saying. Though Tikvah is my
daughter, she is not a seeker of Yah. If he watches over her, it is
only for my peace of mind. Yah is compassionate. But he has
promised nothing to Enoch in this matter.
So what do I do now? I ask quietly.
Edna comes around the table and sits beside me, taking my
hand.
You wait, says Enoch.
To wait is the hardest thing.
I would rather go dashing through the forest, calling out for
Tikvah, calling out for Semjaza even. Or to make Enoch go out
and find Yah and demand that something be done. Much to my
annoyance, Enoch has quietly left the house without telling me
where he has gone.
I am alone with my thoughts, although Edna keeps my
company. Edna is not one of these women who feel the need to
fill all silence with talk and so she is tactfully quiet. Later, we are
joined by Methuselah, who has no such approach to life. He feels
silence must be filled with giggles, burbles and many and varied
attempts at talk. Edna's attention is taken up by him and soon I
am left with a cup of cold tea and a sense that I am utterly alone.
172
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Nineteen
I do not hear the voice again as I move around the star map.
Jared could tell me about the stars that each pyramid represents,
but Jared is not here.
I sleep more now, even during the days.
I am up in my room sleeping when Jared returns to the
settlement. I hear Rasujal call out a greeting to him. Quickly, I get
out of my bed and hurry downstairs to greet him as he comes
through the door.
Wife, what is this?
I do not even get an embrace. Jared is agitated.
I nod.
It is true, I say. Tikvah is gone.
How could you let such a thing happen . . .? I think even as
he is saying it, he realizes it is an unfair accusation.
I think you should talk to Enoch, I say, gently, taking his
arm. He is the best one to talk to.
Of course, says Jared. You must be sick with grief. He
pats my arm before hurrying off toward Enoch's home.
I step outside and watch him cross the settlement.
But I am not sick with grief. Resignation has set in and it
leaves me weary.
I survey the settlement. I do not see Pyramides. Have I lost
two children?
I go back into the house. I doubt very much that Jared will
want a lavish welcome-home meal, but I should, at least, prepare
something simple.
When, at last, he comes home, I have a vegetable soup and
some flat bread.
We eat it together at the long table.
Where is Pyramides? I ask.
I left him at the settlement of Enosh, he says, absently. He
liked it there.
Probably a pretty cousin.
Jared does not seem interested in talking. He must know now
that Tikvah has been spending time with Semjaza. I do not know
whether he is angry or whether he is hurt. It is not until the end
of the meal that he speaks.
I have failed her, he says. I should have found her a
husband sooner.
175
Chapter Nineteen
go with him.
177
178
Part Four
179
180
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty
when he would walk with Enoch rather than me. But now I
realize how close he was to all of us. Out here, among the
children of Dalath, Jared and I are alone.
189
190
is gone. The city has extended to cover it and we are now past it.
Even the forest is more cleared out and instead of a narrow dirt
path, it is now a stone walkway.
But the forest, rather than being serene, is menacing.
We hear human voices as we travel, just the two of us. People
are now living deep into the forest. My mind wanders over all the
possibilities. Outlaws, perhaps. Waiting to rob travellers?
My husband, though strong and brave, would not be equally
matched for a gang determined to rob us. In this country, strong
and brave is not enough.
But Jared is good.
It is his goodness that I depend on now, to see us safely
through this stretch. Where Behemoth was my companion on the
journey here, a sense that we are of significance to Yah comforts
me on this venture.
Jared travels at a brisk pace and I try to keep up. I do not think
he wants to spend a night in these woods and I do not tell him
that it is impossible to avoid it.
As it turns out, I am wrong.
The woods end far sooner than I expect. The sons of Cain
have spread out well beyond the city of Cain.
A walled settlement appears in a clearing. With fields of barley
and grain all around it, it is small, but active. The gates are
unlocked but in the opening stand men large men. We stay
close to the edge of the forest but are still noted by the men.
Although they are laughing and talking among themselves, they
would be capable of engaging in combat if necessary. It is their
demeanour. And the tall spears held lightly in their hands.
In the time it takes us to pass the settlement, I see a man with
a cart of grain pass through the gates. He is of little interest to
the men.
We no longer have to travel by forest, unless we want to.
There is a continual chain of cultivated fields followed by walled
settlements.
By evening, we have a decision to make a night in the forest
or a night in a settlement.
Jared chooses something in between. A night at the edge of
the forest. We have passed a settlement and are out of sight of
the guards.
We share what little food we have left as we lean against a
192
What an affair it will be! one the traders calls out. The
groom wants the delicacies of the world at his table. His bride
will wear a dress of silk made by a million worms. With pearls
from the sea and diamonds from the ground.
The man asks for things that are nearly impossible! A
bloodred diamond for the bride's finger. A symbol of true love,
he says.
Flowers from along every river!
Banners made of every colour!
The traders shake their head in good-natured revelry. This is
splendid business for them, even if they are hard requests to
meet.
When does the wedding take place? I ask weakly.
In two days, is the reply.
Our group is starting to break up. Perhaps there are more
things the traders have to bring back in the short time.
But Jared and I are standing as still as stone pillars.
Walk carefully! one of the traders calls back. You move
among gods now!
It is I who takes the first step. My husband seems to have lost
his ability to move.
We have two days to get her back, I say briskly.
Jared just stands there.
Finally he speaks.
We will only be able to bring her back with us if she wants
to, he says.
I do not speak, but only stand waiting for him to form his
thoughts. Because, of course, he is right.
She is now the . . . Jared searches for a word. Queen of
heaven! Pearls! Diamonds! Silk! And what will we bring her back
to?
At last, he and I are of like mind on this issue.
I think of our quiet settlement, spacious but with its dirt paths
and forests with common mushrooms. Oh, but our forests are
not common! Yah walks in them! But what is that to Tikvah who
now stands as a goddess by her god? How will we tell her that
Semjaza will only treat her as such as long as it pleases him to do
so?
And in one way, it is to her disadvantage that she has only
seen a marriage like Jareds and mine. Jared is not harsh with his
194
wife. Tikvah is hardly aware that the hearts of men can grow cold
and cruel.
But even if she has, Semjaza's honeyed words will have
assured her that he is not as other men. True. But perhaps in
ways none of us can understand.
We must speak with her, I say.
Jared shakes his head.
The talk with the traders seems to have taken all the life and
hope out of him.
We must do only one thing, determine if she is happy. If she
is not, we will die attempting to save her. If she is, we will return
home before being forced to watch the whole wretched
marriage.
I nod.
Knowing Semjaza, he would probably invite us to sit at the
head table. The two dowdy children of Seth, out of their
element, as he lavishes splendour on their daughter. We will not
submit to his wishes, so Jared is right. We must determine
Tikvah's state of mind without encountering Semjaza.
Though both of us feel tired, we start walking faster. Time is
short.
My first sight of Enoch makes me gasp.
It has grown beyond recognition. Buildings now seem to
stretch to the clouds. They are whiter and brighter than I
remember.
My first thought is, how could walls protect a city with
buildings so high? But one quickly realizes that only a fool would
attack Enoch. For it is peopled by giants. And the giants are
armed. They carry leather shields and spears. Some of them even
have copper helmets, glistening in the sun. Tubal-Cain has
obviously expanded his expertise.
I do not dare to talk to a giant but I feel safe stopping a
farmer's wife about my age. She too is heading for the city with a
horse-drawn cart full of produce. It is not market day. But
perhaps everyday is market day now in Enoch.
We have come for the wedding, I say to her, trying to sound
light. Do you bring supplies for it?
Oh no! she says laughing. Our master Semjaza . . .
I hear Jared gasp.
. . . would never buy from us! He has his own farms. I bring
195
banners.
Workmen are out replacing the plain glass of the streetlights
with coloured glass.
All for my daughter's wedding.
There is one place I have to see again and that is Tubal-Cain's
shop. It is almost beyond hope that it would be in the same
location, by the central marketplace. Sure enough, when we
follow the crowds, and end up in the city centre, though I look all
around, I cannot see my brother's shop.
But surely Tubal-Cain is still a well-known man.
Jared beside me is silent, taking it all in. Among the sons of
Seth, we have our pyramids. But we do not have cities like this.
I ask a passerby where we can find the shop of Tubal-Cain,
the metalworker. He shrugs and keeps walking. Maybe he is only
a visitor himself.
I ask a passing shepherd. They always knew where TubalCain's shop was. Gruffly, he nods and points to a huge white
building. I thought it was an apartment building. Thanking him, I
grab Jared's hand and we move through the crowds.
Sure enough, Tubal-Cain, Metalcrafts is written above the
store's entranceway. There are still the glass doors, but it is no
longer the cosy store Namaah and I once worked in. The window
displays are now filled with swords, spears and helmets. Going
inside, I see that the store is several stories high. The first level
has jewellery in cases as well as the pots and copper platters that
every household needs. There is a whole row of iron stoves along
one wall.
I do not recognize the young woman and man behind the
counter. We go up to the second level. It is almost entirely taken
up with men admiring the weapons on display. There are more
employees here four young men are enthusiastically leading
customers around and showing them all the various swords and
knives in glass cases. Helmets are all lined up on shelves. Giants
are here too, looking around. Jared takes a quick glance at one of
the cases. I look long enough to see that the quality of TubalCain's work is still excellent.
The third floor is quieter. It is a showcase for Tubal-Cain's
craftsmanship. Exquisite iron railings, small engraved pots, a set
of table and chairs, mirror frames that look as if they are made
with metal thread the work is so delicate, a bed frame of elegant
197
Qayin! I say.
He looks around, almost frantically. But no one is paying
attention.
Havilah! he says. You must help me!
But why, cousin? I gently take his arm. He is not the man
who Naamah once loved. I have never seen death before, but
Qayin is what I imagine death to look like fearful and at the
same time, hungry.
Jared, watching this all with concern, relaxes when I call
Qayin, cousin.
You must get me out of here! says Qayin. He almost
collapses in my arms. Jared moves in quickly to support him.
Jared and I look at one another.
He was once family, I say.
Then we will help him, says my husband.
Together, we move through the crowds, each of us holding
onto Qayin who seems to have lost all strength. At one point,
Jared pauses to replenish our supplies. I am left holding Quayin,
who, in addition to everything else, has lost weight.
We must get out of here, he murmurs.
Soon, I say soothingly. We need food. You need food.
Now loaded with bread and bean dip and honey and dates, we
make our way through the stone streets to the gate we entered
through.
At the sight of the guards, Quayin mutters, Yah have mercy!
If he fears being noticed, it is unlikely. Wine is now being
distributed in the streets and even the guards are hurrying
forward to grab a cup.
The party has started early, says Jared.
I nod, stepping aside slightly to let an eager young man hurry
over to the huge casks being brought by carts and erected on the
stone benches along the walkways. Now that the drinking has
begun, I am glad to be leaving the city.
But oh my Tikvah!
I look back with longing.
Semjaza probably has her in one of the buildings that touch
the sky. Who knows how many giants guard the way?
Once outside the city, Jared hands me all the provisions and
just picks up Qayin in his arms like a child. Qayin has nearly
fainted anyhow. Although people glance at us, the news that wine
199
201
202
delivered him from Enoch, we have sheltered and fed him. Now
he will talk.
Now that Qayin is a free man, he settles back to his story with
good-natured condescension. We are in need and he knows it.
Naamah is a silly little fool, he begins. She expected that
beast to love her like a man. He was a monster to her.
Did he hit her? I ask, thinking of what Chaya has told me.
Qayin snorted.
He did not have to, he says. I would have, he adds. Jared
looks at him with disgust. Qayin doesn't notice. He tore the soul
right out of her, he says.
What do you mean? asks Jared.
Qayin looks thoughtful. It is hard to explain. A woman can
always control a man if she is determined enough. Most are not
determined enough, of course, and so we dominate them. This
coming from a man who has only recently been liberated from
slavery. Naamah was born to be dominated. It was pitiful to
watch her long for the beast. Her took her whenever it pleased
him with no regard for who was watching. Both Jareds eyes and
mine widen. He kept her close enough that she longed for him
but not so close that she ever belonged to him. That's what she
wanted, to belong to him. Pitiful. Qayin shook his head.
Did he ever let her visit with her family? I ask.
I was her only family, says Qayin. I saw everything that
went on between those two.
How could you observe everything? I ask.
Qayin's jaw sets.
I was nothing more than a dog to the man, he says.
I do not want to inquire further into the nature of his slavery.
Qayin says Naamah was pitiful. He has not had a chance to see
his own state.
Sometimes, Tubal-Cain would come and insist on seeing
her, continues Qayin. Semjaza would order her to dress and
wipe the tears from her eyes. Then she would sit beside him,
quiet, while Tubal-Cain and Semjaza would talk about expanding
the mines. The criminals work the mines now. None of us are
freemen anymore. If you are accused of a crime, you go to the
mines. Murder. Stealing an apple in the marketplace. It does not
matter. It is all the same.
Why did Semjaza decide to marry again? I ask, not
205
the city.
Jared and I sit in silence.
I know the way in, he says after a while. It is through the
sewer.
I nod. I figured as much. Though I do not care for the
thought of actually trying it.
Where is Qayin? I ask.
He left, said Jared. I could not keep him. He told me
everything and then he said he was going to go as far away from
this place as he could. I gave him some food and money.
That was nice of you, I murmur. Thankfully, my mind is not
filled with the knowledge that Jared now has to bear. My
daughter is getting married today! I look down. My clothing is
worn. I look like any farmer's wife. I suppose we will stand in the
crowds with everyone else and if her eyes fall on us, she may not
even recognize us.
Tonight we will go into Enoch, says Jared, before stretching
out on a cushion to sleep.
But I am wide-awake. I eat what's left of the bread and walk
down to the creek for some water, both to wash up and to drink.
Some of the tent-dwellers are out and notice that I am a new
face.
Here for the wedding? one woman asks.
I nod and try to smile pleasantly.
Things will get out of hand, predicts another woman. I am
staying here with my children.
Your husband will not miss out on the revelry, says the first
woman.
What does it matter to me? the woman shrugs. Let him
have his fun.
I am staying here too, says another woman. I do not trust
the giants when they have had too much to drink.
There is much agreement. The city will not be safe tonight.
Are you curious about the bride? I ask.
A couple of women shrug.
We have not seen her. We will never see her again.
I decide to be bold and gather as much information as I can.
I remember the days when Father Cain sat in the city gates,
I say.
One woman laughs.
207
I know where he's getting that. Yah cursed his creation after
Father Adam and Hawwa chose to eat the fruit of the Tree of
the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Indeed, we are cursed
creatures, and how much more as we stand here tonight?
We are called to be fruitful and to multiply, continues
Semjaza. And so I come before you today with Tikvah.
The crowds cheer. Jared's hand tightens around mine.
I declare to you my intent to take her as a wife. And in turn,
she declares to take me as her only husband.
Jared and I look at one another. We have both noticed the
careful distinction. Tikvah is to have no other men. Semjaza is
free to have as many wives as he wants.
Tikvah nods, looking up at Semjaza with adoration. I can tell
my girl is overwhelmed by all of this and is holding onto Semjaza
for her strength.
That seems to be the ceremony.
Then one of Semjaza's brothers moves forward to make a
small speech welcoming Tikvah to the family. Then it is TubalCain's turn to come forward, welcoming Tikvah to Enoch. I am
proud of my brother. He is dignified regardless of what this
means for his family. I notice that Lamech has lost most of his
colour and is much thinner than I remember. The loss of prestige
is affecting him heavily, no doubt.
The crowd is respectfully quiet, but getting restless. On the
balcony, Semjaza speaks one more time.
It is my desire that you all share in the festivities, he calls
out. Someone has handed him a glass of wine and he raises his
voice, I drink to your health, I drink to your wealth, and I drink
to . . . life!
He downs the glass in one gulp and tosses it off the balcony.
The crowds roar back. They love him tonight. They love the
beautiful woman beside him, but they will never see her again.
Then more wine is coming out from what must be Semjaza's
home. This time, it is accompanied by food. The crowds move
forward. Jared drags me in the opposite direction. On the
balcony, the wedding party is moving inside. I have only a
glimpse of Tikvah's dress as she disappears through the
shimmering glass doors.
211
212
her, yet unwilling to not hold her in some way. She moans but her
eyes are closed and she is still. Frighteningly still. I have only seen
death once in my life when Behemoth died. He went cold too
and right now Tikvah's hands are the same temperature as the
chilly river.
Oh my love! Carefully, I place my head on her chest. She is
barely breathing. Behind me, I am aware that the more insistent
the proprietor is that we leave, the more stubborn my husband is
that we will not leave. Finally, Jared hauls the man over to the
window and points that there is absolutely no one coming out
from Semjaza's house. We are entirely alone in this room and no
one cares what is happening.
Slightly soothed, the man says we can have the room for one
more hour and then he will go get some giants to drag us out, if
necessary.
Jared does not even reply to this, turning toward the bed and
joining me on the ground to look at his daughter.
I do not think she is even aware of us.
Gently, Jared strokes her forehead.
This tender gesture almost starts me weeping. My daughter is
dying in front of me. This is death. This is what the knowledge
of good and evil brought us. Oh for Life!
Oh Hawwa! Why did you have to make this choice for all of
us? For one moment, I hate Hawwa, but then I realize, this is part
of the knowledge of good and evil too.
Then Tikvah is still.
I put my head back on her chest, but feel nothing. Jared puts
his hand over her mouth but does not feel the breath of life.
Is she . . . ? I cannot bring myself to say it.
Jared looks at his daughter.
I do not know. But if she is, we will not bury her here. And
if she is not, we cannot stay here. Jared surveys the room but
does not see what he is looking for. He stands.
Do what you can for her, he says to me, before going out
the door.
I have some oil left, a tiny amount. Very gently, I rub it on
some of her wounds. Her dress is of the finest material, but it is
too revealing. I wrap her in my second outfit and stroke her
forehead while I wait for Jared to return. She is cold. I am glad
her eyes are closed. I would not have wanted to see the life go
217
out of them.
Jared returns with provisions and hands them to me.
We will walk until we are home, he says. So these will have
to keep us going.
I nod silently and take the food. It is a large supply of goods
to carry, but Jared is already picking up Tikvah. His load will be
heavier.
218
Part Five
219
220
buried in our forest and she and I often go out to sit by the small
marker we erected. Jared never does. It is too painful.
But in his quiet way, he has rebuilt our life, replacing all the
furniture that was sold to pay for our journey to Enoch. In some
ways, it has been easier for me. I have forgiven myself and taken
solace in the presence of Yah, who Enoch still walks with. If he
is here, than everything must be as it should be.
Enoch simply is not concerned, Edna continues. It would
be nice if he would share my desire for grandchildren.
I smile.
That is one pleasure that I have known.
Rasujal and Nava have three children. Nava refused to have
anymore after that, although they are now the grandparents of
three more children. Overall, I sense that Rasujal is a frustrated
man.
Pyramides and Kalah have both married and although Kalah
lives in the settlement of Cainan, we still have Pyramides and his
wife here with us. They have brought seven children into the
settlement and their eldest son and his wife are now expecting
their first child.
We are blessed though, I say. Edna nods. She understands
that I consider the presence of Yah to be of more value than ten
grandchildren living close by.
I push my chair back.
We should take some tea over to Nava, I say.
Nava does not care to have tea in my home with me,
preferring the comfort and luxury of her own house, but I try to
make a point of bringing some tea leaves over to her now and
then.
Edna shakes her head.
I am needed at home to . . .
She searches her mind for some forgotten chore.
I laugh.
Your home is spotless, Edna.
It is because I have no grandchildren to mess it up, she
grumbles as we both stand up.
It is true. I look around my house. Pyramides's three youngest
were here yesterday and the house still has not recovered. It
hardly seems worth it to restore everything if they are just going
to return. Jared calls them violent little men and asks Pyramides
222
why his children must play with toy daggers. I try to ignore the
war games they play and just think of them as high-spirited.
Nonetheless, Edna is not interested in a visit to Nava, so I set
out alone with my offering of tea leaves. Rasujal's house has
expanded with his lizard business so that now it is the biggest and
tallest in the settlement. It is filled with the luxuries of the four
rivers. I hardly bother to look at Navas treasures. I use wooden
ladles in my soup while Nava has silver ones hanging above her
iron stove. Except that she hardly uses her iron stove. One of her
unmarried daughters does the cooking. It is one of life's ironies
that two attractive people like Rasujal and Nava have produced
three plain-looking children. Their son has married a giant
woman and they live in our settlement. Rasujal is still looking for
husbands for his daughters. They are both excellent cooks, but
have lived so long in the shadow of their overbearing mother that
they do not have much personality. It is also unfortunate that
despite their physical shortcomings, they are not humble. Instead,
they seem to spend their days waiting on their mother and
exhibiting ill will toward everyone they come in contact with. I
have no doubt that as soon as I leave their house, the three
women discuss how dowdy my dress is, how tired my eyes look
and what a poor grandmother I am.
Nonetheless, this is my settlement, so I persevere in staying
connected to all who are in it. If Hawwa can bear the lives of her
children, I can bear the lives of mine.
My granddaughter answers the door and receives the tea with
grudging gratitude. I do not care how many valuables they have
in their home, the tea from my garden is as good as anything sold
along the Tigris.
She shows me up to her mother's room where Nava is sitting
on silk cushions and appears to be doing nothing more
meaningful than examining her fingernails.
God's blessing to you, Nava, I say, sitting down on a hard
wooden chair, the only other seat in the room.
Hello Baraka, says Nava, who has never taken to calling me
Mother.
How is your health? I inquire.
It is a standard question. As long as one is alive, the acceptable
reply is, Praise Yah, I am well. But Nava rarely answers this
way. I await with interest her complaint for today.
223
I could be mortally ill, she says. For all Rasujal would care.
Her voice is hoarse.
It would easily be cured by lemon tea, I reply. One of
Pyramides's boys had the same thing. I gave him lemon tea and it
cleared his throat right away.
The little beasts were around here yesterday, she said.
Feeding scraps to the dragons. No doubt I caught it from one
of them.
This might be true, if Nava ever went out to where the
dragons are caged.
I shall bring you some lemons, I say. One glass of tea with
some honey will cure your throat.
Not everything is cured by tea, says one of my
granddaughters, as she comes into the room with a tray holding a
jug of berry wine and two small glasses.
I suppose that is true, I say agreeably.
Nava pours us each a glass of wine. This berry wine is her one
contribution to the settlement, her only act of labour to harvest
the berries and process them into this delicious drink. I suspect
that it has probably soothed many arguments between her and
Rasujal.
The conversation turns to Nava's daughter-in-law, the giant.
It is not right, says Nava, shaking her head. I can barely lift
my grandson. He is only three and is already the size of a tenyear-old.
I nod sympathetically. The giantess and I have very little in
common, although she was raised in a settlement among the sons
of Cain. Mostly we discuss her children. She towers over me, but
is mild-mannered and seems much like any other woman, only
larger. I doubt very much that she has bruises on her arms. Her
husband is two heads shorter than her.
But your grandchildren are strong, I say. No doubt, they
will be of great help to Rasujal with his lizards.
Nava shrugs, refusing to see any good in the giants.
I have noticed that the giants who do not come from Enoch
have barely heard of Semjaza and have very little interest in their
origins. They call themselves the Mighty Ones and their children
are sought after for the armies built up by the bigger settlements.
I inquire about the berries in the wine we are drinking. With
enthusiasm, Nava tells me that this is a combination of
224
They are both still young, I say. Enoch is only 251-yearsold and Methuselah is 186-years-old.
Do not think that I do not know that Enoch wanders the
forests when he should be establishing a settlement. Of course,
he cannot establish a settlement because he refuses to have any
more children. So his settlement would consist of him and Edna.
At least, Methuselah has a clearing of his own, but what does he
do? Does he take a wife? No, he sits and . . .
. . . and waits for the end to come, I think, recalling the strange
meaning of his name.
. . . and feeds himself, I suppose, Jared finishes.
Jared knows that Enoch walks with Yah. I do not know how
he found out, only that he did. But no matter that Enoch has this
special connection, a son of Seth must still honour his father.
I will be interested to know how this conversation with Enoch
goes. Perhaps I will find out from Jared. Or perhaps not.
But the next day there is big news.
I am in the courtyard when Edna hurries in, her face glowing.
In anticipation of a talk over tea, I quickly add some water to the
pot that sits on the iron stove.
Methuselah is to take a wife! Edna tells me excitedly. She
has not even waited for me to brew the tea. It is all to be
arranged within a year!
What is this! I say, turning to her, the boiling water
momentarily forgotten. It is only three hours after sunrise. Has
Jared already talked to Enoch? I thought he was behind our
house chopping wood.
It is true! says Edna nodding. Enoch talked with Yah in the
night and Yah instructed him to take a wife for his son. Indeed,
they are to have a child within a year!
What does Methuselah say to this? I ask. We return to my
sitting room, the tea entirely forgotten.
Enoch has gone to talk to him now, says Edna, leaning back
on my cushions. I do not even know who the woman is to be.
But, oh Mother! she grasps my hand. I shall hold a child this
time next year!
I nod. It is a great joy to hold a baby. It has been 186 years
since Edna held her own child and I can understand her longing.
Edna is in a stir.
226
228
I shrug.
I suppose I let him be who he is and just leave it at that.
Kalah shakes her head at this approach to marriage.
If I did that, the roof would fall in on us.
I smile.
I imagine your father would notice if the roof fell in.
But by then the event would have happened, grumbles
Kalah. It's the star maps, she continues. Cainan's wife
complains of it all the time. Always the star maps. Cainan's house
is collapsing on top of them, but he is too busy making sure the
star map is intact. He has workers repairing stones on the
pyramids but he cannot spare one to put some new shutters in
his windows.
She rambles on into the night. I listen with half an ear.
And then something stirs inside of me. An awareness. It is
beyond me and near, at the same time.
Yes!
I do believe Edna is right!
A child will be conceived tonight.
And the line will continue. Whatever end is to come, there is
still hope.
Methuselah and Ena give me an honour that is almost too
great. They ask me to name their son. The child was born almost
nine full moons to the day after they were married.
Edna, known for her own personal modesty and simple tastes,
has outfitted him in robes fit for a trader of diamonds.
Now, two weeks later, we are visiting them in their settlement.
Though their settlement is only one home, a large garden and
fields of grain, this new life has filled it with people coming to
offer their warmest hopes for Methuselah's son.
Holding the tiny boy, they leave me alone with him in their
bedroom. I am grateful. I whisper a prayer to Yah to guide me in
this decision.
The name that comes to my mind is the one of the only father
I ever knew, Lamech.
It seems a strange choice, and yet, very few people know of
my family in Cain, so they would not associate it with the city of
Enoch.
Lamech, I whisper. It means, man of prayer. And with a
231
you! We let our children stray and they have paid with their lives.
I am quiet, thinking of Tikvah.
No longer! Jared cries out. No longer will I forget! I will
call on your name until the day my voice is hoarse and I can no
longer speak.
Then he grabs my hand and we walk briskly back to the
settlement, my husband energized and determined. I do not
know what this means, but it seems to me to be very good.
234
creations.
Jared now sits for long hours with Methuselah, discussing Yah.
Methuselah says his father, Enoch, knows Yah better than any
man on earth.
Even Father Adam? says Jared, sipping the delicious ginger
tea that Ena serves us when we visit her. It is her own creation
and she mixes in the sugar cane that has become so popular in all
the settlements.
I think Father Adam knows Yah in a different way, says
Methuselah, leaning down to retrieve a soft ball. He rolls it across
the room causing the kitten to chase it. Lamech laughs with
approval. Today we are sitting on the floor making pyramids with
the blocks. No doubt he knows he has brought evil into the
world and is determined to resist it in whatever way he can. But it
is my father who trusts in the goodness of Yah.
Methuselah stands up to return his clay mug to the courtyard
where Ena is preparing a salad for lunch.
I have been thinking something over, Methuselah says,
coming back into the dining room. I am going to take Ena and
Lamech to meet with Father Adam.
Just about to place a block on the top of a huge pyramid, I
pause, startled.
It may not be a safe journey, I say.
Methuselah nods his acknowledgement.
But it is important I think. Father Adam and Hawwa rarely
travel anymore. Even Father Seth has not met Lamech yet. So we
will stop there on our way.
This is all very true, says Jared slowly.
I do not like the idea, but I cannot deny that if Lamech is to
meet those who came before him, this journey is necessary.
How long will you be gone? Jared asks.
I am thinking that we should plan to be gone for at least
twenty rotations of the earth around the sun.
That long! I burst out.
Methuselah nods.
What does your father say? Jared asks.
Oh my father thinks I should just stay put. I do not know if
that is his opinion or the opinion of Yah. I think it is his own.
But perhaps it would be wise to regard his opinion, I say.
I honour my father, Methuselah says. But I make this
236
the iron stove is left. Even our bed is gone. The floor is hard but
Jared promises to start on the bed as soon as we have obtained
livestock.
Every gold coin is spent on the next boatload of animals that
comes along.
The traders are pleased, now able to return home without
having to travel the length of the river. People usually only buy
one or two animals at a time. Jared says we will take the sheep
and the goats straight to Methuselah and Ena, stopping only at
our settlement for the tent.
Rasujal's eyes widen as he sees us with our herds.
His dragons start to grunt and strain in their cages, eager to
get out and devour the animals. Pyramides, his wife and his
children all come out to see this unusual sight. Even Nava is
leaning out of an upper-story window. Her son and the giantess
and their children hear the commotion and come out to pet the
animals.
We take these to Methuselah! Jared calls out. Will you not
accompany us in wishing them well on their journey?
Edna joins us, teary-eyed.
Even Nava joins the long procession through the woods. Each
child wants to take responsibility for an animal, so we move
slowly, but at least without fear that we will lose any of our
precious creatures.
Will Methuselah know how to handle such a herd? I ask
Jared over the din.
It will serve him one way or another, he says. If he does
not care for the life of a herdsman, he can sell the animals along
the way.
I nod.
It is a form of wealth that is rarely preyed upon the wealth
of a herdsman. Few people want the work associated with the
animals and yet, everyone appreciates the wool or animal skins.
Animals can also be used to carry heavy loads, so Jared is right.
Methuselah will easily be able to sell the animals if he wants to.
Ena is out in the field helping Methuselah with his harvest
when we arrive. Even Lamech is helping to bundle the sheaves.
The three of them stop and stare in amazement.
What is all this? asks Methuselah, coming forward,
240
242
ever since her last child, she suffered from blood loss for 14 days
at a time. I repent of any passing thought I had that she was just
lazy and well-fed. Even Rasujal is showing more compassion
toward Nava, insisting in our presence that she rest. It makes me
wonder what he used to say to her when they were alone.
Edna nods.
I saw out among her berry bushes. Her step is much lighter
now and she actually looks cheerful.
But Edna does not look cheerful.
I never suffered as she did, says Edna. I would have
happily borne more children.
I try again.
The sons of Avanim need more people for their coal-mines,
I say. I think Nava's grandchildren might end up there.
Since the pyramids are no longer being built, many of the
sons of Avanim have pursued other resources from the ground.
They still have stone quarries but they also have coal-mines.
Nava has my sympathy, says Edna dully. I know what it is
to lose a grandchild.
I strain my brain to think of something that Edna cannot
connect to her loss of Methuselah and Lamech. She is still my
closest confidante, but sometimes she gets in these dark moods.
Chaya tells me that her husband's brother is to appear before
a jury, I say.
This has been an ongoing case. Chaya husband's brother killed
a man and it has not been determined whether it was in selfdefence or a premeditated act. Only the sons of Seth bother to
make distinctions between such acts on the basis of motive and
circumstances. Usually, among the sons of Adam, it is simply a
case of the strong man versus the weak man and the weak man
ends up dead.
Edna does not find this bit of news interesting. Jared and I
have recently returned from Mahalalel's settlement and it is all
that they are talking about there.
I get up and go to one of my shelves. On it is a jar of the
cocoa powder that Chaya always has on hand. She gave me the jar
upon our parting. Tea lifts the spirits, but today, Edna needs
something stronger. With the boiling water and some sugar cane,
I prepare her a cocoa drink. While I make it, I discuss the recent
news I received from Ena. She has joined with the daughters of
244
We sit and wait for several days, waiting for all the children of
Adam to return home. Then the announcement comes that
tomorrow Adams body will be buried.
Seth is the son who is given the task of burying our father. It
is Seth's wisdom that he does not call upon his sons and
grandsons to assist him, but upon all the sons of Adam. We see
these patriarchs rise and move through the seated crowds to join
their brother.
There is a murmur through the crowd when one of them
stands. I recognize the tired-looking man. It is Father Cain! Most
in the crowd have never seen him, but it is a common story of
how he built the first city after being banished from this land
outside the Garden. I watch as he makes his way forward with his
brothers. They are hesitant for only a moment, before he is
welcomed as their eldest brother, with pats on the back and
smiles of sympathy. He is now the oldest man on earth.
I almost weep at the site of these older men, for now we all
know how it ends. It just does. There is no way to protect oneself
from it. Death comes to one no matter how carefully one may
live.
Quietly, the word passes through the people that Hawwa has
prepared Father Adam's body with spices and wrapped it in linen
cloth. He is to be buried in the ground, as Yah has said, For you
are dust and to dust you will return.
Though we are too far back to actually see Father Adam's
body go into the ground, after his sons have buried him, we all
form a procession to pass by the mound of dirt that he is under.
For what purpose, I do not know. He is beyond awareness. One
final goodbye, I suppose.
By circumstances, Jared and I end up beside Father Cain's
wife, Awan, in the line. She is also looking worn.
I take her arm, though it is unlikely she remembers me from
the days of Enoch.
This is a day of deep mourning for her. For Father Adam is
her father too, and she has not seen him since the day she
accompanied Cain to the Land of Wandering. All the sons of
Adam married a sister and so, her pain must be as great as any
woman has had to bear. On the day she accompanied her
husband and brother, she lost both her father and mother.
She is trembling. I hold her arm and then put my other arm
248
around her to give her more support. We are both crying. When
we pass the ground where her father lies, she will see her mother
again after nearly 900 years of exile.
The sun moves from overhead to low in the sky by the time it
is our turn to pass by the ground that holds Father Adam.
Hawwa is being supported by two of her daughters.
A noise comes from Awan. It is a cry of anguish, so raw and
so distressing that it increases my own weeping. Alhough by now
Hawwa looks too weary to cry, and so many people have passed
by her that we must all be a blur, the cry of her daughter reaches
her. She looks over at me and the wife of Cain.
Mother! The pleading of a child is in Awan's voice. She
breaks from me and runs to Hawwa.
With her own cry, Hawwa recognizes her lost child, her eldest
daughter, and moves forward to embrace her. Jared catches me
just as I am to collapse. I am so busy watching Hawwa's reunion
with her daughter that I barely notice the freshly turned dirt as
we pass by.
The two women are still in each other's arms when I look
back.
Perhaps some good has come from this day.
It takes time for the news to reach us.
Father Cain is dead. And in the same year as his father, Adam.
The news comes from the traders. It is only because Nava has
some berry wine to trade that I am down by the river with her.
Her husband is too busy to accompany her although we have one
of his dragons for protection.
The story told by the trader is that his house fell in on him.
The stones just came down right over his head, says the
trader, shaking his head.
Nava hardly takes the news in. After all, who is Father Cain to
her? She is examining a small piece of silk.
But what of Awan? I ask the trader. Father Cain's wife?
The trader shrugs.
I have not heard a report of her death.
Perhaps she was visiting one of her children at the time.
Nava and I return to the settlement in silence. She is admiring
her silk. I am thinking about the death of Father Cain. There is a
striking justice to the matter. Cain killed his brother Abel with a
249
stone and now stones have fallen on him. Though Yah may not
move among the sons of Cain, it would seem his justice does.
If Awan still lives, perhaps now she can return home to her
mother for good and no longer dwell outside his presence in the
Land of Wandering.
250
Enoch nods.
Methuselah will be home soon, he says, taking the chair
across from me. Edna is overjoyed.
I smile again. It is all she has talked about. She and Nava have
been at Methuselah's settlement, cleaning the inside of the house
so that Ena does not have to catch up on over forty years worth
of dust. Nava's new health has been a blessing in many ways. She
and Edna have even gotten the garden going again weeding out
thorns and thistles. Edna's only concern is that Nava insists on
travelling through the woods with one of Rasujal's chained
lizards. Like Jared, Edna would rather risk meeting a ruffian than
die by the whim of a dragon.
We must find Lamech a wife, Enoch continues.
Did they not meet anyone for him when they lived among
the sons of Adam?
Enoch shakes his head.
I return to the water that is now boiling and prepare us some
tea. With a plate of date cookies, I return to the table.
Thank you, Mother, says Enoch.
I do not inquire as to why he is here. It is enough that he is.
I am sure that Methuselah will find him a wife among the
children of Mahalel, or perhaps, Cainan, I say. He probably
wants to return here and settle back in before finding someone.
And Lamech must build a home.
I suppose you are right, says Enoch. Women seem to need
homes.
We both smile.
Enoch looks around. Again, I sense that he is seeing the room
for the first time.
Mostly, we sip our tea in silence. But it is something I cherish.
The return of Methuselah and Ena and Lamech is celebrated.
All our settlement travels through the forest with food and
welcome Nava with berry wine, Rasujal with a particularly large
dragon to protect them, Edna with kittens. Even Enoch comes,
carrying flour and other food essentials to keep them going until
they reap the produce of the garden.
The travellers have only been home a day. They still have
livestock, but Ena also has her skill as a weaver of linen. Some of
the younger women want to learn the skill and Methuselah is
252
This is where the star map would have been, says Jared.
I nod. I already know. I cannot tell whether Jared says it with
any bitterness.
One cannot deny the beauty of the fields. The plants have
flowered and it is a field of delicate blue and green.
Workers, my great-grandsons in fact, are planting in another
field. Clearly, the plan is to have flax at various stages so there is
always a field to harvest.
Methuselah sees us and comes forward from the field in
bloom to greet us.
Father Jared, he greets my husband with the honorific title.
Dearest Mother, he says, turning to me. He kisses us each on
our cheeks.
Now how does this all work? asks Jared.
Methuselah waves a hand at the mature field.
We will cut the plants close to their roots and then winnow
them to remove the seeds. We will then loosen the fibres from
the stalks . . . Methuselah takes us through the whole process.
Jared pays attention but my mind wanders. Once again, I am
struck by how the direct descendants of Seth provide an oasis in
a harsh world. The men in the field work cheerfully and diligently.
The same was true of the men and women back at the house.
Now this is different, says Jared, as we pass by a field of
leafy green bushes with small berries. Some bushes have red
berries, others are green. Some berries are lying on reed mats out
in the sun.
Ah, yes, says Methuselah. It is Ena's second talent. She will
roast these berries and grind them to make . . .
. . . coffee! I finish.
Exactly, says Methuselah. He turns to another field that
contains a different crop.
And this is where we get our red dye from. You would not
know to look at it, but it comes from the roots. He points
beyond that. That is the plant that gives us our blue dye. With
that one, it is from the leaves.
We carry on back to the house, passing a couple of young
women, cousins of Ena, harvesting lichen from tree trunks for,
as Methuselah explains, the green dye.
Everyone at the house is having a coffee break. It is made in a
large pot in the courtyard and sweetened to make it more
255
260
the night sky rather than Yah who made it all. They speak as if
knowledge of the stars is a gateway to insight on earth. Even
some of the sons of Seth talk this nonsense. Of course, the only
reason I can be so confident of its absurdity is because my son
walks with Yah. For those who do not know that Yah still moves
among the sons of Seth, it would be tempting to find meaning
elsewhere.
And so Lamech leaves again, much to Edna's sorrow. This
time she is more philosophical about his departure.
He is a good man and perhaps he will find a good wife, she
says, to me over a mid-morning coffee in my house.
I laugh, thinking that all of Enoch's talk must have had an
effect on Edna, although I have not heard Enoch mention
marriage for his grandson for years now.
But at least Edna still has Methuselah and Ena and we often
see her at their settlement, even after her grandson is gone.
One day, she and I are in Ena's courtyard boiling raspberries
for a pink dye when she tells me, If it is possible, I think Enoch
spends even more time with Yah.
Tell me, Edna, I say, tossing another basket of the fruit into
the pot. Have you ever felt . . . I search for the word. . . .
disappointed in Enoch as a husband?
Edna shakes her head.
He is not like other men, I know that, she says. But I think
that is a good thing.
I agree, I say.
He has always taken care of me, she continues. We have
our garden and we do not go hungry. He is quiet, but he is
thoughtful.
I nod. The same could be said for Jared.
So no, says Edna. I have never been disappointed. But I
understand why you ask the question. She stirs the pot gently to
crush the berries and bring out more colour.
And then something unusual happens.
Enoch starts to join us at Methuselah's settlement. He and
Edna are there everyday, although Enoch is always with his son
out in the fields.
One day I am picking the ripe beans from the coffee plants.
Methuselah is nearby, harvesting the plant that gives them the red
262
271
272
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty
of his dark skills. I did not know that he has been teaching them
charms and enchantments.
No wonder Enoch did not speak. Who would have
understood? Who would have believed him?
And Jared is right.
The giants, though benign in our area, have turned violent
elsewhere. We have heard isolated reports, but Enoch's writings
tell us that they consume the acquisitions of men and when men
can no longer sustain them, they turn against them and devour
the men themselves.
Is this to be taken literally? I ask Lamech, who has, after all,
studied and heard more from the traders than I have recently.
I am afraid that it is, he says. The traders have always been
afraid of the giants, but there are rumours that men disappear
and no one hears of them again.
They devour like beasts? I ask, in disbelief.
I believe so, says Lamech. Though please do not worry,
dear Mother. We now know we have unseen angels that guard us
against the evil ones.
I nod, hardly knowing what to say. On one hand, the news of
the earth is disturbing and terrifying, even more so now that we
understand the darkness behind it. But Enoch has seen the Glory
of Yah, a magnificence, he says, that no mortal could look upon.
Yah was surrounded by a fire that made him unapproachable. He
was accompanied by innumerable angels that never left him. Is it
possible that my forest pulsated with the life of heavenly armies
every time I had a sense of Yah's presence?
It would seem they eat the flesh of animals too, Jared says,
his eyes on the writings, bringing me back to earth.
Yes, says Lamech nodding. Father was often able to sell his
surplus livestock to the traders. I did not believe the stories at the
time, but it was said that the traders freely gave the giants animals
as a way to appease their blood-lust and thus save themselves.
I think of the gentle giantess living in our settlement and her
children working at Methuselah's settlement. Surely, when
mingled with the blood of Seth, some of these offspring of
fallen angels have become no more than giant men?
Jared points to another passage.
It would seem that the very serpent who deceived Hawwa
lives among the fallen ones, this one known as Azazel who
275
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty
283
284
Our children will fight one another until they destroy one
another. Oh Havilah! Now he looks at me. Would you want
that to be your condemnation?
I did not introduce enchantment and sorcery into the world,
I reply.
For a moment, I see his eyes flash with anger and I am afraid.
Oh Yah, I whisper. You are everywhere . . .
Then his voice changes, soft as silk, sweet as honey.
You are the one woman I trust, he says, sounding genuine.
And perhaps it is true. I come to you as my only hope. Havilah,
think of my children.
Naamah's children, I cannot help but point out. That is a
mistake.
Yes! he says. Naamah's children. Think of your dear sister!
She suffers as I do . . .
She suffers because of you! I burst out, looking around.
Where is everyone in my settlement? It is always quiet, but today
everyone is either in their own home or over at Lamech's.
His eyes grow dark.
There is only Yah. Jared is nowhere to help when needed.
Semjaza moves closer to me.
Will you help, Havilah? he says. His voice is still smooth, but
I detect a threat in the question.
No, I will not, I say, knowing this may be the death of me.
And for one moment, I do not care. The world is violent. I have
played a part in its violence. By running from Semjaza, I brought
violence to the house of Lamech. By bringing Rasujal into the
world, I have been responsible for dragons ripping men to
shreds.
I feel his hand, just one hand, go around my neck . . . and
squeeze.
Oh Yah! is all I gasp. I feel close to losing all consciousness
when I see Semjaza wince with pain. His hand loosens and he
groans.
I am gasping for breath, but I am not so dazed as to miss that
Semjaza twists around and pulls an arrow right out of his back.
With a glance at me - I almost see amusement in his eyes - he
turns and walks away.
I collapse.
What manner of man was that? Kenaz, brother of Jared and
288
the bedrooms.
He thanks me with true graciousness and warns me to be on
my guard and not to travel alone. The fallen one may still be in
our area. I nod and thank him for saving my life today.
Baraka, I believe it was Yah who saved your life today, he
says with a grin before wishing me a good night.
It is Rasujal who delivers the shocking news.
Uncle Kenaz has been found dead! he gasps for breath,
practically falling into our courtyard. Jared and I look up, startled.
We are making a large batch of sweetened fruit to have
something on hand to trade with when necessary.
What do you mean? asks Jared, slowly lowering the pot to
the ground before turning to face his son.
Rasujal nods.
I did not see him, he says. I went back today with a dragon
and did not see him . . .
He is not making any sense. Quickly, I push a chair over so he
can sit. Rasujal is pale and shaken. Yesterday, Kenaz left us to
return to his settlement. How can he be dead? A terrifying
thought occurs to me. I remember his last words to me. Yah
saved my life, but the fallen one may still be in our area . . .
My head is spinning and I, too, need to sit down.
His wife was worried, naturally, Rasujal continues, no longer
out-of-breath, but not entirely coherent. As they all are. But we
all told her not to fear. He must be out hunting. I returned home,
the same way, but saw nothing. But the wife must have persisted
because they sent out a party to look for him in the forest and
they found him . . .
Oh Yah! I moan. I am trembling. This is all because of me.
Strangled, says Rasujal. Not an animal. He is bewildered.
Who would do such a thing? He had no coins, no stones,
nothing of value on him. Even his bow and arrows were left
behind. Rasujal is shaking his head. He looks dazed. If this were
a distant cousin, it would not be so tragic. But Kenaz is an uncle,
and a close friend to all of us. A congenial man. I remember the
first day I glimpsed him in the woods and found myself among
the sons of Seth. How could it end this way?
Although, says Rasujal. Whoever did this thing, for
whatever reason, took one of Kenaz's own arrows and stuck it in
290
the mundane tasks of living. But Jared and I are once again
united in sorrow. It is not a bad thing. He is the only other living
person to know the evil that has reached our settlement. We have
shared the loss of a daughter and then the loss of a son. Now we
share the loss of the sense that we are untouched by the violence
that torments the sons of Cain.
292
seem to have secret information that they do not share with me?
If there is something you know, by all means, disclose it! He is
gesturing wildly.
I stifle a laugh. The four men are sitting around my large table.
I have never seen my husband become this emotional.
Does Yah speak only to you and never to me? Jared
continues. Am I not also a son of Seth and . . .
My husband abruptly runs out of words, and anger. We are all
smiling.
I have no special message from Yah on the matter, says
Lamech. I only know that the woman for Noah must be special
and I have never met her.
Noah nods shyly.
It is a valid point. The daughters of Seth are swept up in the
enchantments that have been brought into the world by Semjaza
and his brothers. Their eyes are painted and they are given over
to the worship of the goddess, as they now call Hawwa.
I have a special girl in mind, though. But she is young. A mere
child, really. Her name is Emzara and her father is Rakeel. They
are a quiet family who live in Methuselah's settlement, children of
Seth, of course. The mother is one of Ena's weavers and Rakeel
helps in the fields. Little Emzara is a sweet child who I often
encounter in Ena's courtyard. She is curious about everything
how to make coffee, how to make pink dye, how to feed a goat,
how to embroider linen, how to make a mug . . . I enjoy her lively
questions.
But I know better than to suggest anyone at this point. I think
Lamech does not want a wife for his son yet and if it is to be
Emzara, she must grow to adulthood first.
So Noah turns his attention to raising animals. It is a
knowledge passed onto him from Methuselah who still has a
small flock that he maintains. Noah also starts a vineyard and
soon his wine becomes a regular feature at our get-togethers,
although Nava maintains it lacks the depth and complexity of her
berry wine. Noah is good-natured and always defers to her,
saying it is a poor effort on his part, to be sure.
Violence touches us once again, although, praise to Yah, we
are not harmed. There is an altercation down by the river,
between some traders and some passing young giants. The giants
were unarmed but fearless. Although it happened near our
294
thought.
He worships Yah under the stars while the rest of the world
worships the stars, says Kalah.
Today, I am in my garden harvesting spinach. Noah and Jared
are sharpening their tools near my garden and discussing the way
earthly bodies and heavenly bodies differ.
What can we deduce from this? Jared is saying as he
sharpens his scythe with a stone.
I think it suggests that though this body is perishable, there
are imperishable forms . . .
But how can this be . . . ?
I take my basket of spinach and return to the house. These
conversations can go on for hours.
While the men take an interest in Noah, I cannot help but
focus my attention on Emzara. The girl is engaging, and unlike
the others of her age. When we are at Methuselah's settlement, I
take the time to talk to her. She has so many questions! Alas, I do
not always have the answers, but I seek them out for her. I am
afraid her parents consider her a bit of a bother with all her
questions and most of the other people at the settlement just
ignore her because she is a child. But they cannot ignore me!
My knowledge of plants is limited to my garden and the ones
in the forest, but for Emzara's sake, I talk to the cousins and
aunts who know about the medicinal qualities of plants, as well.
When I have exhausted all of their knowledge, I turn to Lamech
himself and with good-natured humour, he shares some of his
Great Pyramid education with me. Today, we are working side-byside in his father's flax fields.
And what is the reason for all these questions? he asks, at
last.
Ruefully, I grin.
It is for the sake of a precocious child.
A precocious child? he says, straightening his back and
groaning. We have been bent over for two hours now, pulling
weeds, a necessary but backbreaking job. I know of only Noah.
The one I am thinking of is a girl.
A girl? Lamech is puzzled.
The daughter of Rakeel, I say. Lamech glances across to
another field where the father of my special friend is also
296
298
from upriver that seems to make his point about Noah and the
need for a wedding.
It is not traders who bring the news, but a grandson of
Cainan, who arrives with the sad announcement that his
grandfather is dead.
Jared is also a grandson of Cainan and we welcome his cousin
into our home.
He tells us more.
He has suffered ever since he turned 900, says the grandson.
That would be about . . . Jared pauses to think. Ten years
ago?
The grandson nods.
Turning nine hundred is an unsettling experience. It is the
indicator that one is nearing the end of his life. Adam made it to
930, Seth to 912, and Enosh to 905.
And how is your father? the cousin asks Jared. It is a
pertinent question. Mahalalel is now the oldest of the sons of
Seth.
He is well, says Jared, clearing his throat. Though I cannot
say the same for myself.
Oh we are young men! says the cousin, heartily. I think it is
more to reassure himself than to make any statement of truth.
After a night in our home, the grandson of Cainan moves on,
now accompanied by Jared, to take the sad news to Mahalalel's
settlement.
I will be gone a few days, says Jared, giving me a tender kiss
and a wave when we say goodbye the next day. I nod. I expected
as much.
Kalah and her family have their own home in our settlement
now. I will, perhaps, spend some time with Kalah. Her children
are all grown, some with children of their own.
It is with a heavy heart that I move through my quiet home.
Death again. And it will continue to come to each one of us.
Mualaleth, Cainan's wife, died a few years ago. It is almost a
routine matter now to hear a report that someone has died.
Almost. I have not quite gotten used to it.
Despite my initial thought that I might spend some time with
Kalah, I never actually make it over to her home. She seems
oblivious of the obvious destiny of us all. For my Kalah, death is
something that happens to other people. She will have new
300
behind her.
Is it her time? I ask. I was under the impression she had a
few months to go.
She does, says Ena. But I think the baby may be coming
early.
That is not good.
We go into Ena's house and she takes us upstairs to one of
the bedrooms. Emzara's mother is stretched out on a bed,
propped up by cushions. She is pale.
Emzara, she moans, reaching for her daughter. Emzara
hurries to her side and takes her hand.
Where is the midwife? I ask Ena.
We have sent for her. But she is in the settlement of Cainan
and it will take time. She was not planning on coming to the
settlement for another two months . . .
Ena has had only one child but I have had enough to know
that this is not going well. Giving birth is never easy, but
Emzara's mother is as white as a sheep.
Is it the pain, dear? I ask, moving closer.
She barely has the strength to nod.
Do you feel the birth pains, though? I ask. If she is in this
much agony, she should be close to giving birth. There should be
intense cramping. But Emzara's mother shakes her head.
Only pain, she whispers.
I am not a midwife but there is no one else who seems to
know what to do. When I was giving birth, the child in me
struggled to come out. I crouch down beside her but feel no
movement in her belly. Although I have no experience with
animals, I recently watched Noah assist a sheep giving birth. Like
Emzara's mother, the sheep seemed to be unable to do it herself.
It was messy, but Noah reached right in to get the lamb out.
I take a deep breath.
Bring me water, I say to Ena who has been standing still.
She hurries off. And clean linen! I call out to her back.
Can I help? asks Emzara, pale but calm and determined.
Hold your mother's hand. Tell her it is going to be fine and
she will soon have a child to hold.
Emzara whispers soothing words to her mother.
Ena is back with water and cloths. Just in time. I have pulled
my fingers out of the birthing area and though I can feel that she
302
305
come out. Noah and Emzara are eating with Edna tonight. And
surely it is safer to be living with us?
I murmur possibility. The sons of Adam are rapidly claiming
the earth and perhaps Noah just wants to make sure that the
portion of land stays with the sons of Seth.
I always have the feeling that my children are not telling me
everything, complains Jared.
I laugh.
Do you think that Yah has told Noah that he should claim
the land and the forest for some unforeseen purpose? I ask.
Jared shrugs.
I would not be surprised. And he would certainly not tell me
if he did.
I do not know whether it is Yah or Noah he is referring to. In
any case, it is an idle conversation and we slip into comfortable
silence as we watch the stars.
The wedding is not the celebrated event that the marriage of a
son of Seth has been in the past. For one thing, Seth himself is
gone, as is his son and grandson. So it is Mahalalel who presides
over the ceremony and the guests are mainly from his and
Methuselah's settlement.
The festivities are held at our settlement so once again, I am
preparing food for larger numbers.
Though Noah is a man who seeks Yah, it strikes me how little
Yah plays a part in the day. He is mentioned in the wedding
ceremony itself and then after that, hardly referred to again.
Instead, the talk among the sons of Seth is about personal
security and wealth.
One could hardly accuse Methuselah of being a man who
pursues wealth but he is held up in high esteem for the success he
and his wife have had with their linen industry. The only
comparable success is one of the cousins in Mahalalel's
settlement who has become well known for his pottery and the
delicate designs painted on his pieces. He and Ena have much to
discuss about various dyes that they use.
For me, the conversation leaves me listless and heavy. I have
no interest in the matters of the world and I hardly expect
anyone to inquire about my daily routine, nor indeed, would I
want to talk about myself. But everyone else, it seems, is eager to
307
308
Part Six
309
310
The Garden, the two trees, a flaming sword guarding the way to
the Tree of Life . . .
I nod. It is the most familiar of the oldest stories. New stories
of recent exploits get passed on now, mostly tales of the
Nephilim, but the prudent patriarch still takes his newly-born
grandsons and great-grandsons and great-great-grandsons and
tells them the most ancient story of all.
But I must see it for myself, says Jared. If there is a way to
Life, I must take it, no matter what the risk.
Now it is my turn to speak slowly.
Yes, I see what you mean . . . If it is only a matter of a
journey, albeit a difficult one . . . perhaps Life is still possible.
If such were the case, though, what about the people who
have already died?
But then I think of how Enoch had such little interest in the
everyday matters of life. And he walked with Yah. Perhaps it is
time for me and Jared to abandon the cares of this world and
seek Yah.
This time, there is no need to find a trader to take our
furniture. Noah left us with a healthy vineyard and Jared has
diligently tended it and reaped its fruit. Some of its harvest was
eaten as grapes, but most of it was turned into wine. Since
festivities are few in our settlement (I cannot say the same for the
rest of the sons of Adam!) Jared sold the wine in wooden casks
to the traders and now has a small fortune of coins in a chest
under our bed. Coins are the means of exchange now. They, too,
are a metal product and if Tubal-Cain is still alive, he must be a
wealthy man if he has anything to do with the production of this
currency.
The advent of coins has also brought a form of security. The
traders themselves organized it. It is bad for the economy to have
people living in fear and stockpiling their coins. So the trading
districts of any town are generally guarded by giants and anyone
who steals, either coins or merchandise, can be assured of a
bloody end. The trading boats are also manned with armed men
who do not hesitate to rid the earth of anyone who should rob
either a customer or a merchant. For an added fee, you can have
one of the armed men escort you right back to your home with
your purchase.
Jared and I do not tell anyone of our real reason for the
312
journey. I think Jared does not want someone to tell him that he
is being absurd and that it is an impossible quest. For my part, I
feel hope. Enoch's writings say that he visited the Garden once.
So it cannot entirely be off-limits to the children of Adam.
Everyone understands Jared's desire to visit the Great
Pyramid, though. He is the oldest son of Seth, and perhaps even
the oldest man on earth.
And so, one day, we quietly take passage on a trader's boat and
set off down the Tigris.
It has been so long since I have travelled any further than
Methuselah's settlement. In fact, that is our first stop. Bales of
embroidered linen are exchanged for bags of coins, the whole
transaction being carried out by Nava's giant grandchildren, now
older men, and well-established members of Methuselah's
community. They grin and give us a wave as they head back to
the settlement. I doubt anyone will attempt to deprive them of
their bag of coins. They are not only large, but they have long
metal daggers at their sides. Their loose linen pants could also
hide knives strapped to their legs.
Over the next few days, we spend most of our hours along
the boat's railing, waving when we recognize someone. These are
our people, the older ones anyhow. We do not recognize all the
younger faces.
The Great Pyramid is still a hub of activity and learning. Most
of the star maps are now waist-high in weeds and grass, but here,
everything is cared for and the grass is regularly trimmed.
This is where we encounter our first obstacle.
The head-trader had assured Jared that we would spend a day
or two in the vicinity of the Great Pyramid. Thus assured, Jared
had paid our passage for a journey to the Great Sea.
However, arriving at the Great Pyramid, there is no one at the
dock and so the traders just drift right by.
I thought you said we would stop! says Jared, watching in
horror as the dock gets further and further away.
The head-trader shrugs.
It is unusual not to. But there was no one here today.
But I need to stop!
I can stop, says the trader. But only to let you off. There is
no one to trade with.
So you would just carry on and leave us?
313
expression on my face.
You do not have slaves in the settlements of Seth either, do
you?
I shake my head.
With worldly knowledge, he leans on the railing and explains it
to me.
They are being sold to pay off debts. Probably the debts of
that man over there. He points. A tearful man is being held back
by two men.
Such a thing should not surprise me. The sons of Cain had
the same system. And yet, looking at this small family and the
terror on the children's faces makes me feel as if I have never
seen anything as evil as this in all my life.
Jared has been standing behind me and now he moves
forward, down the ramp to the man who wants to unload the
slaves on our boat.
How much? he asks the man.
The man looks at him with interest.
Fifty silver pieces for the woman. Ten for each of the
children.
It is a huge sum of money. It may be all that we have. But at
that moment, I want my husband to hand it entirely over if it
means saving these people from slavery.
Our head-trader hurries down the ramp to stand by Jared.
That is a ridiculous sum, you cheater.
The man grins, like, I tried.
Twenty for the woman, then, he says.
Our head-traders is still glaring at him. Finally, it is worked
down to five pieces of silver for the woman and one for each of
the children.
I still think you got cheated, says our trader. But, at least,
you have yourself some healthy slaves. He glances at the mother
and her children huddled under her arms. The father is quietly
weeping, no longer being held back, but certain that he has lost
his family forever.
I have no need for slaves, says Jared, patting one of the
children on his head. He waves at the father and calls out, They
are yours now.
The father looks at him in disbelief. Then, slowly, he realizes
his family is free. And then he is laughing and embracing his wife
316
and children.
I have never been more proud of my husband than I am at
this moment.
But the young trader beside me is shaking his head.
Your husband is a fool, he says. Next time we pass this
way, they will be up for sale again.
You are saying the man will run up his debts again? I ask,
concerned.
The young man nods.
Greed is an addiction, he says. It is why we are so wealthy.
He goes off to help his fellow traders weigh anchor to move on.
We are on one of the large boats that do not just rely on tying up
at the dock to stay steady.
Is that true what he says? I ask the head-trader who has
been listening to our conversation with interest.
He nods.
I am afraid so. I have known men who sell one family to pay
off their debts and then turn around and take a second wife and
do it all over again. We are moving on the water now and he
glances back at the man walking away with his family, carrying a
child on his shoulders with his arm around another. But perhaps
this situation will be different.
I hope so. It is not for the sake of the money that Jared spent,
but for the sake of that poor woman.
Unfortunately, we see many other wretched sights as the
Pishon carries us all around the perimeters of the land of
Havilah. The young man seems to take particular glee in pointing
out to me the various fields worked by people who have made
themselves bonded servants to a strong man. Many of them are
young children.
These are violent times, says the young man. No one can
be his own master. In these parts, anyway.
So they band together and work in some man's field in
exchange for protection? I say. I am watching the scene. There
are as many armed men as there are field workers.
It is not a bad life if you have the right master, the young
man says.
But that young girl back there . . . I am leaning over the
railing to see what looks to me like a baby out harvesting cotton.
317
I have lost all interest in cotton now that I see who must work to
bring it to me.
They are only expected to work twelve hours a day and the
rest of the time is their own.
Twelve hours a day! I say, looking at him incredulously. The
fields provide no relief from the blazing sun. Our settlements are
shaded, but here, the trees have all been cleared to increase the
number of fields. Such a hard life . . .
A young girl can have the soft life in one of the temples, he
says, pointing at yet another abomination to Yah on the horizon.
Please, I say, holding up a hand. Do not tell me more about
the temples.
He grins.
It is not all about the goddess. Some of them are erected to
honour the moon, others the sun . . .
They are all Yah's creation, I burst out. The woman, the
moon, the sun. Where is the temple to Yah?
The young man shrugs.
As far as I know, no such temple exists.
318
attempts to get a conversation going. I notice that the large, redheaded lady who runs this establishment is washing mugs and
watching us with amusement.
You are seeking information, she says when we are, at last
alone. The morning meal has passed and it is a natural lull in
business for her.
Yes, I am, says Jared earnestly. He is not aware that she has
been following everything that has gone on so far.
My husband is a sailor, the lady says. That is why I came
here. I got tired of never seeing him. She shrugs. Now I see
him a few times a month.
Would he be able to tell us where the Garden of Eden is?
Jared asks eagerly.
The woman just stares at him and then laughs.
The Garden of Eden! she says. I thought that was just a
myth!
No, says Jared. It is real. Our Father Adam lived there.
Our Father Adam, says the lady, shaking her head, as if she
doubts his existence too.
Then I take it your husband would have no idea where the
Garden of Eden is, I say, leaning forward. Perhaps this
conversation would go better if it were woman-to-woman.
The woman snorts.
Oh, you can talk to him and he will tell you some wild tales. I
expect him back two or three days from now . . .
We will be back, Jared promises. We pay for our breakfast
and head out into the sun. We are still within sight of the sea,
even in this bustling market. Every street seems to lead down to
the water and there is moisture in the air, a quite different
sensation than being by the banks of the Tigris.
The city is as big as Enoch, but with the feeling of being less
permanent, more of a trader's outpost. Only the occasional giant
is here and they are security guards escorting rich traders.
What do we do now? I ask.
Jared glances at the stores surrounding the crowded plaza.
Many of them have sea products shells, huge bags of salt,
sponges, edible sea plants, skincare products. Most of the
business here is related to boats whole stores devoted to rope,
anchors, pitch to prevent leaking, replacement rudders and oars,
barrels, baskets. The final industry that thrives is weapons and
322
325
326
think Harpatka may be able to help you. He has seen the world.
But his god is adventure, not Yah.
I think to know Yah is the greatest adventure of all, I say.
The man looks at me and nods slowly.
You could be right. But to whom does Yah grant that
adventure?
I have ceased to ask that question, says Jared. I only know
that I must pursue him or die in the attempt. Life is meaningless,
otherwise. He glances at me. My wife and I have seen a lot and
heard a lot, but none of it is of any value to me unless I see Yah
and hear his voice. If he is the last sight I see and the last thing I
hear, so be it.
The man grins at us.
Your devotion is commendable and you almost had me
convinced. But I think I cannot travel as far as you are willing to.
He looks back out at his spectacular view. I have my sea and I
think that will be all of Yah I ever know.
We part on good terms, promising to come back in the
evening.
The Great Sea is too tantalizing to just return to our room.
Today I feel as if I have seen my husband's heart. I take his hand
and we watch the scene in silence. Again, activity is everywhere as
crates and baskets and casks and huge clay jars are loaded and
unloaded from ships by muscular men.
Jared suggests we stroll along the pathway by the docks again.
When we arrive at the rocks where we sat the first night, we
discover that, by day, the sea is for swimming in. The water is
filled with bathers who are splashing around, although some of
them, further out, are doing strokes with their arms that keep
them above water. I have seen swimmers on the river, but these
ones seem braver to me. The river has the comfort of a shore on
either side.
We walk even further until we come to a quiet spot and once
again, just sit and watch the waves on the water. It is both
soothing and mesmerizing, like watching the flames of a fire.
There is randomness and yet, an unseen hand controls it. This
vast, mighty sea has its boundaries set in place by Yah.
When the sun starts to drop to the horizon, we return along
the water's edge to the tavern.
The tavern owner greets us with a smile and nods his head
329
slightly toward an older man sitting at the end of one of the long
tables.
We sit beside him.
Buy you a beer, my friend? says Jared.
Harpatka looks surprised.
I do not usually get such an offer. But I will not say no.
Jared smiles.
I have an ulterior motive.
Everyone does, says Harpatka, draining his mug. A woman
who puts me in mind of Mara comes to our end of the table to
see if we want anything. Jared orders beer and potatoes and
onions for all of us. Harpatka looks impressed with this act of
generosity.
We are looking for the point where the four great rivers
meet, says Jared, not wasting any time.
Harpatka looks amused.
And you thought that I would know of such a point?
Jared nods.
I do not know who you have talked to . . . I am expecting
him to tell us that we have been misinformed and am surprised
when he finishes by saying, . . . but you have come to the right
man.
Then you do know? says Jared, eagerly.
Oh yes, says Harpatka, nodding. In my younger days I did
a lot of travelling. It is one of the many sights I have seen and a
mighty sight it is.
The woman returns with our drinks and food.
Would you be able to take us there? Jared asks as Harpatka
downs half his mug before it even makes it to the table.
Harpatka shakes his head.
Only a fool would go there.
What do you mean?
It is death. We wait for him to explain.
I only narrowly escaped dying there myself. There was a time
when we could navigate it. Not that there was any good reason to
do so, just the thrill of passing Eden . . .
Jared grips my hand.
And some of the animals still live there, continues Harpatka.
It was a good place to get animal hides too, when they came
down to the water. But it was a bit of a wild place. We always
330
to come. A whirlpool! What sailor is going to risk his life, and his
boat, on a journey to Eden?
Jared is thinking the same thing.
We will need a small boat, he says.
I smile in the darkness and reach for his hand.
Are we sailors now?
I see him nod.
Now we just need a map.
333
334
I never cared for this boat, says the trader turning back to
the boat. But it was either that or sell the man into slavery to get
my money. And I am not a harsh man. He beams at us. I will
give it to you for five pieces of silver, which is what the man
owed me. And for an extra piece of silver, he adds, I can have
my men go over it and make sure it is seaworthy.
That seems like a good investment, so we leave our boat with
him and promise to return the next day for it.
The remainder of the day is spent purchasing supplies from
the market, dried fruit and oil and flour and whatever else we can
find that will hold up to a long journey. We will certainly not be
able to prepare any food in our small boat, so we will be going
ashore anytime we want to make a fire, or even sleep for that
matter.
Unlike Harpatka, the owner of our boat is trustworthy and we
return the next day to find it ready to go. He tells us that his
boatyard has a dock, number 157, and if we carry the boat down
to there, we can use it to load our supplies.
We thank him and two men help us to turn the boat upside
down so that we can carry it ourselves, on our shoulders. Among
the settlements of Seth, we would be a strange sight moving
through the streets like this, but this is a city devoted to sailors
and boats so we do not cause anyone to take even a second
glance at us.
By midday, we are loaded and ready to go. Having never sailed
on our own, it is a matter of trial and error. In order to navigate
these heavily populated waters, we start with me at the rudder
and Jared with the oars. Thankfully, dock number 157 is on the
north side of the city and very few people, if any, go in the
direction that we are headed. Everyone either goes south, where
it is heavily populated with villages, or down the Pishon.
Just the fact that very few people built settlements on the
north side of the Pishon makes me wonder, says Jared, who has
turned his attention to the sails. There must be a reason, even if
it has long since been forgotten.
He licks a finger and holds it up to the wind, then sighs.
The wind is against us, I am afraid. It looks like it will be the
oars for us.
Jared arranges two sacks of potatoes on either side of the
rudder to keep it in place, while we each take an oar. At least it is
337
calm along the coast. I would not want to venture out too far
though. Who knows what the water is like past the horizon?
After years of working separately, it feels right that Jared and I
should now be doing something together. We get a rhythm of
rowing going and then we talk. There are new sights different
trees and bushes, even some animals we have never seen before.
As the sun gets lower on the horizon, Jared is keeping an eye on
the shore for a place for us to land and spend the night. Finally, at
twilight, he sees a cove. Most of the shore is rocky, but here, the
rock has been ground down into fine sand and we can just drift
right into it without doing damage to the bottom of our boat.
How far inland should we go? asks Jared, grinning.
Our boat is safely on the sand and I am going through it to
see what to have for dinner.
I turn to look at him.
We passed a settlement of some sort about an hour ago and
since then I have not seen a single person on the shore. But we
did see some animals that I would not want to encounter. Adam
might be able to tame a lion but I am not so sure that Jared and I
would be naturals at calming the beasts with our words. Still, God
gave Adam and his children dominion over the animals.
I grin back.
I am willing to go as far as you are.
I call his bluff. After collecting some fallen branches for our
evening fire, Jared is content to get comfortable on the sand. I
roast some potatoes. We brought freshwater along with us, but
we will have to keep our eyes open for rivers that run into the sea
so we can replenish our supply.
We stretch out on the sand, with me using Jared's chest as a
cushion. He is soon asleep but I find it difficult to sleep. It is not
just the discomfort of the ground, or even the real or imaginary
sounds coming from the forest. It is more a matter of not
knowing where this is going to end. I would be content to find
Yah in our own forest, but perhaps Jared is right. Perhaps we
must go further now to find Yah. Though my mind is prepared
to stay up late into the night mulling these things over, my body is
exhausted and sleep comes.
I awake to a small bear licking my face. My scream wakes Jared
and the creature runs into the woods.
I am sorry, I say, now almost laughing as I wipe my face.
338
I was not aware the earth was so large, says Jared. We have
been rowing or sailing, depending on the wind, for three weeks
now. There have been no more settlements. Right now we are
taking turns rubbing each other's stiff shoulders.
At least your theory that the shore curves east was proven
right, I say.
Jared groans, as I massage his aching muscles.
It certainly appears that way, yes. Though we would need a
bird's view to be sure.
I nod.
I had thought that we would encounter the Great River in our
first week, thinking back to the time when Father Adam and
Mother Eve were expelled from their first home. I doubt they
travelled any further than a week. But now I am realizing that the
settlement I visited was probably not their first home outside of
Eden. My theory is that they moved on when Cain did. After all,
I never saw any kind of marker to indicate the burial site of Abel
when I was there.
Perhaps it is the memory of this first murder that makes this
land undesirable to settle in.
We are in desperate need of fresh water so my mind
continually dwells on the hope of the Great River. Tonight, what
has saved us from despair is the discovery of a cucumber vine
growing near the edge of the shore. Jared and I devoured three
cucumbers each in our thirst. Tomorrow, before we set out, I will
harvest the rest for eating in the boat.
I have been a fool, Jared says the next day. The sun is high
above, we are down to our last cucumber each. There is no river
flowing into the sea.
I shake my head as we continue to row. Today, the air is still
and sailing is impossible.
Pursuing Yah is not foolish.
I am dragging you to your death, says Jared.
I came along willingly.
You are a mother. You should be home with your children.
My children stopped needing me years ago.
Jared sighs and pauses to rub his eyes. I take a break too.
Oh Baraka, I will not . . .
I do not know what he is going to say because suddenly, I hear
a noise. It is distant. I would not have heard it except that we
340
One was a face unlike any I have ever seen. Then there was a
second face, more human. Then a third like a lion.
I think of Adam's pet, Ariel.
The fourth was more like, well, like an eagle.
I just stare at him.
He looks down at me and nods.
It is incredible, is it not? And the creature had wings.
What was that noise? I say.
That was the creature moving his wings. I think he was
looking at me.
I stare across the river, though I can see nothing except the
water and the green.
I was terrified, says Jared. But I had to see the Garden. So I
looked. I thought it might cost me my life. He takes my hand.
But I had to see it.
I nod.
And what did you see? I ask softly.
Paradise, he whispers.
I sit and say nothing.
My husband has risked all for his one look of what Man has
lost. I will not pry and tear the memory from him. He is just
staring at the mighty river with unseeing eyes.
Perhaps this is the closest we will get, says Jared at last,
sounding almost normal. I am fine with that. This is not my
journey. This is his. I have felt Yah's presence in our very woods
at home. I long, just the same, for this Garden, but do not know
if Yah would ever let us see more than what we are looking at
now.
Life is on the other side of that river, says Jared. But
Harpatka is right. Certain death is in front of us.
We continue walking, following the bank of the southernmost river. But it will not take us closer to the Garden, only
further if we keep following it.
Like Harpatka, we can see some wonderful creatures emerge
from the foliage of the Garden. The enormous grey creatures
with huge ears, long white tusks and noses that look like hoses.
Large cats like Ariel but with stripes. Brown bears that would
tower over us if we were beside them. Now I am glad there is a
river between us. The creatures come to the edge of the Gihon
for a drink before ambling back to their refuge. For surely, there
344
345
346
I shrug. Jared stands and goes into the forest with me right
behind him.
What about that one? He points.
It is poisonous.
Look! A raspberry bush!
It has no fruit.
Are those not asparagus?
They are ferns. Alas, not one of the edible kinds.
Finally, Jared has to admit we are defeated. We will starve if
we stay.
Well, that is that, says Jared. Home it is.
And so, with one final longing look at the part of the Garden
that is still fertile, we pick up our boat and carry it along the
river's edge.
Our first task when we reach the Great Sea is to find
something to eat.
Back to the mundane, says Jared, as we forage along the
shore. The world of mortals. Dust we are and to dust we shall
return.
I smile sympathetically. There are tears in my eyes. It could be
the salty water or it could be the failure of finding our Tree of
Life.
There is plantain, as well as some kelp, for our late morning
meal.
We eat it in silence. Shared experiences have always brought us
closer together, but it is a sharing of sorrow. What joy we would
have shared had we succeeded! But I cannot dwell too much on
the possibilities of what we missed. Yah has spoken to me and
shown me that our home is among the sons of Seth.
349
350
Epilogue
aches and pains, but he has never taken to his bed like this. He is
962-years-old and he has no illusions about his situation.
I am dying, Baraka, he says simply. I sit by his bedside
holding his hand.
I nod, anticipating the people that will be arriving soon from
the other settlements to say their goodbyes, once the news goes
out. I barely have the strength to receive them myself.
Then Jared makes a surprising recovery. The next day, Noah
and Emzara help him downstairs and he sits in one of the chairs
he has made so long ago. Emzara will not let me into my own
courtyard to make tea. She has been a delight these last couple of
days, preparing all the meals and letting me sit by my husband.
But I am numb. I have been with Jared too long to be able to
imagine life without him.
Methuselah and Lamech and Noah are all in the sitting room.
Soon, Methuselah will be the patriarch of the sons of Seth. If
there is any wisdom to pass onto him, the time has passed. My
husband sits quietly while the others talk. We are joined by
Rasujal and Pyramides who arrive together, without their families.
All their children were here yesterday to kiss Jared's forehead and
mutter their goodbyes. Jared's two sons pull chairs up to be closer
to their father. I can see the concern in their eyes. They are old
themselves, but they did not have to think about it until this
moment. Not only will they lose their father soon, they will join
the oldest generation.
But even more than that, I can see the sorrow in their eyes,
the sense of lost opportunities. I almost start to weep at the
softened hearts.
Kalah also arrives alone and comes over to kiss her father on
the cheek. She seems to forget about me. I think they all just take
it for granted that Mother will carry on as usual. But within, my
heart is failing.
Kalah joins Emzara in the courtyard and soon they are
returning with a tray of tea.
The conversation is gently and meandering.
In the final days of Jared's life, they do not discuss the everincreasing violence in the world or any pending judgement.
Instead, they talk about everyday matters. Rasujal asks Noah
about his grapes and there is a conversation about the upcoming
harvest.
352
Epilogue
353
Author's Note:
Controversy surrounds the Nephilim. All that is really known
is that the Nephilim were giants. They reappear after the flood of
Noah, in the land of Canaan, when the Israelite spies report that
they saw the Nephilim the sons of Anak, who come from the
Nephilim and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers and so
we seemed to them. (Numbers 13:33)
But were they the children of the union of the sons of God
and the daughters of men in Genesis 6:4? I chose to interpret the
passage as, yes, they were. The controversy is really centred
around the term, sons of God. In other passages in the Old
Testament, this term is used to describe angels. Some people have
preferred to understand the Genesis passage to mean that royalty
was attracted to the daughters of men, or even that the sons of
Seth took wives among the daughters of Cain. I don't think this
is consistent with the Hebrew and so chose the more sensational
interpretation that angels and women produced a race of giants.
The apocryphal book of Enoch (quoted in Jude 14-15)
supports this idea too.
The New Testament offers interesting insights into the topic.
First Peter 3:18-20 and 2 Peter 2:4-5 indicate that some of the
angels sinned at the time of Noah and were held in chains in
darkness until a time of judgement. Jesus says in Luke 20:35-36
that angels do not marry which would explain why it was
considered a sin for them to do so.
In Joshua 15: 14, three of the descendants of Anak were
driven out of Hebron by Caleb, an event that is also referred to
in Judges 1:20. This is the last we hear of the enigmatic
Nephilim.
I
t
i
s
r
u
mo
u
r
e
dt
h
a
t
Y
a
hmo
v
e
s
a
mo
n
gt
h
es
e
t
t
l
e
me
n
t
s
o
f
S
e
t
h
.
HavilahlivesandworksinthefirstcityEnoch.Nearby,men
t
o
i
l
i
nt
h
ec
o
p
p
e
rmi
n
e
s
;
wh
i
l
eh
e
rb
r
o
t
h
e
r(
T
u
b
a
l
Ca
i
n
)c
r
a
f
t
s
e
x
q
u
i
s
i
t
ep
i
e
c
e
so
fb
r
o
n
z
ewo
r
kt
h
a
ts
h
ea
n
dh
e
rs
i
s
t
e
r
(
Na
a
ma
h
)wi
l
l
s
e
l
l
i
nt
h
ema
r
k
e
t
p
l
a
c
e
.
Af
t
e
ras
h
o
c
k
i
n
gr
e
v
e
l
a
t
i
o
n
,Ha
v
i
l
a
hr
e
a
l
i
s
e
sh
e
rp
e
r
s
o
n
a
l
c
o
n
n
e
c
t
i
o
nt
ot
h
eb
o
o
ko
f
f
o
r
g
o
t
t
e
nk
n
o
wl
e
d
g
e
t
h
a
t
h
a
sb
e
e
n
k
e
p
ti
nan
e
g
l
e
c
t
e
dt
r
u
n
kb
yh
e
rf
a
mi
l
yf
o
ra
sl
o
n
ga
ss
h
ec
a
n
r
e
me
mb
e
r
.S
e
e
k
i
n
gd
e
e
p
e
ru
n
d
e
r
s
t
a
n
d
i
n
g
,s
h
ewi
l
lh
a
v
et
o
l
e
a
v
eb
e
h
i
n
de
v
e
r
y
t
h
i
n
gf
a
mi
l
i
a
ra
n
df
i
n
dHa
wwa
t
h
emo
t
h
e
r
o
f
a
l
l
l
i
v
i
n
g
.