No Woman So Fair (30 page)

Hagar glanced at the lamb and smiled. She came closer and put her hand on the lamb's tiny head and stroked it. “They are enticing little creatures,” she said. “But then they grow up and lose that quality.”

“Not for me, although I guess I just love any kind of animal.”

“Even lions and bears and wild dogs that come to take your sheep?” Hagar teased. As she stroked the lamb's head, she allowed her hand to touch his arm, and when he blinked with surprise, she laughed. “You are a funny fellow, Eliezer!”

“I suppose I am.”

“You don't chase around after young women like other men your age.”

“No, I don't suppose I do.”

“Why not?”

“I never learned how.”

Hagar's eyebrows arched. “You're not too old to learn.”

Any other man would have taken this statement as a direct invitation to press in, but Eliezer let the moment go by. “How do you like this new life?” he asked her. “It's a lot different from being in a palace in Egypt, isn't it?”

“Yes, it is, but I like it.”

“Don't you miss all the luxuries you had there?”

“Oh, I suppose I do, but I was a slave there. Slaves don't have many luxuries. They have to steal them if they do.”

“Steal them?”

“Of course. Slaves can't own any property. Everything that comes into their hands belongs to their masters. But I learned to make out fairly well.”

Eliezer considered this and said, “But out here in the desert with so few conveniences, I'd think you'd miss that life.”

“No, not really. You have to remember, Eliezer, I grew up in the desert. My father was a chieftain. We lived very much like you and all of Abram's people do.”

Eliezer put the lamb down and said, “I have to walk a little bit to keep an eye on the animals. Would you walk with me?”

“Yes, that would be fine.”

As the two walked among the animals, Hagar found herself studying Eliezer carefully. He seemed oblivious to his own good looks, but she found him to be one of the most attractive men she had ever seen. He was tall, as tall as Abram, and the lightweight shepherd's garment he wore left his arms and half of his chest bare. It was a simple garment, supported by one strap over his right shoulder and belted with a leather belt. His skin was a golden olive, even and smooth, and his hair, which he had tied together with a leather thong so that it hung down his back, was black and glistening. He had fine teeth that flashed when he smiled, outlined against his olive complexion. He did not smile often, but when he did, he made a most attractive picture.

“Tell me about yourself, Eliezer.”

Looking at her, Eliezer shook his head. “There's really not anything to tell. I've had a very unexciting life.”

“People say you're the son of our master, Abram.”

Eliezer flushed. Despite his tan, whenever he was embarrassed the blood rushed to his cheeks. “There's nothing to that,” he mumbled.

“But everyone says so.”

“I don't think it's true.”

“But you don't
know
it, do you?” Hagar had picked up the stories of the birth of Eliezer, born of a slave girl who had been redeemed by Abram. It had been perfectly logical to her mind, being reared in an amoral atmosphere, to think that Abram would have had a relationship with an attractive slave girl. She knew all about this from hard experience. She had waited for him to make some sort of approach to her, but he appeared to be impervious to such desires.

Hagar continued to lead the conversation, for it had occurred to her, as it had to others, that since Sarai and Abram had no children, this young man might well be the heir to all the couple's wealth. With this thought in her mind, she stumbled, not accidentally, and grabbed at his arm. “I guess I'm getting clumsy,” she said, not releasing her hold. She looked up at him and lowered her eyelids coyly. “Tell me some more about the sheep,” she said, and as they moved away, she kept her hand firmly on his arm.

****

Sarai stretched on her bed, arching her body and pointing her toes, weary after a long day's work at her loom. She loved to weave and spent hours every day at the small loom Abram had made for her. Now her fingers ached, and she locked them together, squeezing, then relaxing them.

“Can't you sleep?” Abram mumbled.

Sarai rolled over and turned to face Abram, who was lying beside her. “I'm not very sleepy, but I am tired.”

“You work too hard. With all the servants we have, I don't see why you have to put yourself out so.”

“What would I do if I didn't?” Sarai objected. “Lie around and stare at the sky?”

Lying next to her husband in bed had always been the best time of the day for Sarai. She wondered how many nights they had done this over the years. Unlike most men—at least so she supposed from what other women told her—her husband did not throw himself into bed and fall asleep at once. He was always eager to talk with her first, and it was during these moments that Sarai felt the happiest.

She began to speak of how she now realized the Eternal One had come to her when she was a prisoner in Pharaoh's palace. She had told Abram the story before, but she kept remembering new details. It had been an exalted moment for her, and now she whispered, “I am so happy that the Eternal One spoke to me at last, husband. Oh, not like He speaks to you, in a voice that can be heard, but I knew He was with me when I confronted Pharaoh. I would never have had the courage to do that if I hadn't been sure of His presence.”

“Tell me again what it was like.”

“It was like…well, it was like nothing I had ever felt before. In a way it was as if someone had entered my body. I know that sounds silly, but that's what it was like. I just knew He was in me and all around me, and I knew that whatever I said to the pharaoh would be all right because God would be giving me the words.”

Abram listened to Sarai and finally said, “I've thought a lot over the years about how the Eternal One has spoken to me. It's the same way He spoke to my grandfather Nahor, and from what I understand, He spoke in a similar way to Noah, Enoch, and other members of my family. I believe that He speaks to everyone, but He may do it in different ways.”

Sarai could hear in Abram's voice the love he had for the Eternal One. She was always conscious of his pleasure in speaking of God. Finally Abram's voice began to trail off, and Sarai, still not sleepy, quickly changed the subject. “Hagar has proved to be a good servant. She's the best maid anyone could have.”

“She does a good job of making you lovely, but you don't really need anyone to do that. You're lovely enough as you are!”

Sarai giggled. “You always flatter me, you old man.”

“Not flattery at all. You're still the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.”

Sarai pulled his head around and kissed him. “From what I hear from other women, you're the only man who says things like that to his wife.”

“Then other men are stupid.”

“Stupid! Why do you say that?”

“Because I can get anything I want from you when I say nice things.”

Sarai doubled her fist and struck his arm. “You beast! You admit to such a thing?”

“Of course! I'm selfish to the bone. Now, if you'll promise to fix me just exactly the meal I want tomorrow, I'll tell you anything you want to hear.”

Sarai smiled. She knew he meant what he said, but she also knew that in his teasing he had passed over a great truth. She had long ago learned about herself that she loved hearing words of endearment and appreciation. Fortunately for her, she had married a man who was willing to speak those words for a lifetime. Most men, she knew, would never think of saying sweet things to their wives.

“Have you noticed Eliezer?”

“What do you mean have I noticed him? I see him every day.”

“Don't be foolish! I mean have you noticed what's going on between him and Hagar?”

“Going on? No. What's going on?”

“Men are so blind! She likes him.”

Abram chuckled. “Hagar likes
most
men!”

Instantly Sarai stiffened. “Has she been making eyes at you too?”

“Of course she has. Are you blind?” Abram laughed. “I think she's just in the habit of attracting men.”

“What if Eliezer falls in love with her and they get married?”

“Do you think that might happen?”

“I think it might. He should have married a long time ago. Would you mind if he did?”

“Not if he loves her.”

The two talked about this subject, and finally Abram pushed it out of his mind. After a moment of silence, he brushed a kiss across Sarai's lips. “I'm worried about Lot.”

“Yes, I am too. Things aren't the same between us. We were always so close—like family—and now he seems almost angry with you at times.”

“Yes, you can't miss it.”

“Why is he acting that way?” Sarai wondered.

“There's been some difficulty about the grazing land. We both have large herds, and sometimes our servants get into squabbles over it.”

“Can't you do something about it?”

“I'm going to have to—it can't go on like this. Go to sleep now. I'll take care of it. Don't worry.”

****

“He's cheating you, Lot!”

“No, he's not.” Lot was putting on his sandals after rising from bed. He had awakened early, and his wife, Meri, had immediately begun nagging him about the problem he and his men were having over grazing land.

“Yes, he is!” Meri jumped out of bed and stood over Lot as he struggled to fasten his sandals. “You're too easy! You let everybody run over you—especially Abram!”

Lot rose to his feet and slipped into his clothing. He was in a bad mood and wished that Meri would keep her criticism to herself. It was an old argument, and he was weary of it. “Abram has been very fair with us.”

“Tell me one thing he ever did that wasn't selfish,” Meri demanded.

“All right, I will.” Lot glared at her. “The pharaoh gave him more cattle than the eye can see, and Abram gave us half of them. He didn't have to give us any of them!”

“Of course he did. You're just like a son to him, aren't you? What kind of a man would he be if he hadn't given them to you?”

Long ago Lot had given up trying to reason with Meri. She did not have a reasoning mind, but she certainly had a demanding spirit! “We'll work it out,” he muttered and started out the door of the tent but stopped when she caught his arm.

“Lot, you need to consider our daughters.”

Lot was never able to follow the quick jumps that Meri's mind made. “What are you talking about?” he said. “What do they have to do with grazing land?”

“We've got to move into the city.”

“Another old argument!” Lot shook his head. “What would I do in the city? You can't keep herds of sheep and cattle in a town.”

“We're rich enough now that you can hire shepherds to keep them outside the town, but I want a house in Sodom.”

The argument Meri always made was that their girls had no opportunity to meet suitable young men out in the desert. Lot had heard it a thousand times:
“All they ever meet are dirty, smelly shepherds!”
Now she said it again, and Lot replied sharply, “I was a dirty, smelly shepherd, and I did all right!”

This answer did not satisfy Meri, of course. Wearily he listened all through breakfast, and finally he shoved his plate away disgusted. “All right—all right, I'll talk to Abram!”

“You get what belongs to us, and as soon as you do, we'll go into Sodom and see if we can't find a nice house.” Her face grew dreamy. “It would be so nice to have a place in town. I could go shopping every day and make life very pleasant for you. You do it, Lot. We've lived out in this awful desert long enough!”

****

Abram was well aware that Lot had something on his mind. He had been speaking with Eliezer about moving the sheep to better ground when Lot had come in walking stiff-legged and with his jaw set, as he often did when he was troubled. Now Abram walked with him out to the edge of the flock, and Lot explained his problem, which came as no great surprise to the older man.

“Our servants are fighting over the grazing land, uncle,” Lot said. “We've got to do something about it.”

“I agree.”

Lot, who was prepared for a heated argument with his uncle, was taken aback. He stammered for a moment, then said, “You think we should divide the land, then?”

“I don't see any other way, although it would be a loss not to be close to you, nephew. You know how fond I am of you.”

A feeling of shame washed through Lot. He knew that Abram had been his best friend in the world, but Meri was making life miserable for him. “How will we divide it?” he asked.

Abram put his arm around Lot's shoulder. “You take the land you want, and I'll take whatever is left over,” he said quietly.

Lot was shocked. He knew that by rights Abram should have taken first choice, but here he had freely given it to him. They were standing on a promontory, and the land spread out around them, clear and open to his gaze. He looked first at the desert land, then his eyes went to the watered plains of the Jordan Valley to his left. “Then if you will give me the choice…” he said. He hesitated, almost ashamed to choose the best, but Meri was waiting for him at home. “I'll take the plains over here.” He added defensively, “Meri wants to live in a town, and I can't put up with her arguments any longer. She's going to drive me crazy, uncle.”

Abram had known this, but he tried to put in a warning. “It's dangerous to live in a town like that. You know the reputation of those people.”

“Yes, I've heard it all. It's a notorious place. But I don't have to take part in their sinful activities. I can be true to the Eternal One there as well as I can in the desert.”