People of the Ark (Ark Chronicles 1) (4 page)

“
No,” Noah said.

“
Its titanic size gives it a strange grace all its own. But as I was saying, sir, the galley master explained to me that all ships must be able to see. They are living things, I was told. And as we crossed the Pishon and I felt the ship move under my feet, why yes, I realized that it was indeed alive. Now for your ship, sir, painted eyes are much too ordinary. May I thus recommend two flawless rubies, huge gems that I’m sure you’ll agree would work very well as eyes.”

Like a magician of Nod, Kedorlaomer opened his hand to reveal two huge rubies
. They glittered with a bloody, red color and were as big as chicken eggs.

Cousin Jubal sucked in his breath.

“Envision these as the eyes of the ship, sir,” Kedorlaomer crooned, clacking the rubies together. “Oh, then you would need never fear any collisions, sir. Your ship would see every danger and avoid every shoal.”

“
They’re beautiful,” Cousin Jubal whispered.

“
Indeed,” Kedorlaomer said. To Noah he said, “Surely these belong on your ship, sir.”

Smiling, Noah said,
“No, no, I’m afraid not.”

“
But to just paint on eyes, sir, that—”

“
There won’t be any eyes,” Noah said.

“
What?” Kedorlaomer asked. “No eyes?”

Noah shook his head.

“Then what of you, sir?” Kedorlaomer asked Jubal. “You seem like a man of taste.”

“
Could you loan me the money?” Jubal asked Noah.

Noah shook his head.

“Uncle,” Jubal said. “I-I promise I’ll pay you back first thing. I-I need those rubies.”

Yes, thought Ham, in order to purchase the favors of an easy woman.

“Indeed, indeed, it would be a sound investment,” Kedorlaomer said, raising his eyebrows as he glanced at Noah.

Noah shook his head again.

“Ah, unfortunate,” Kedorlaomer said, making the rubies disappear by a deft twist of his wrist.

Jubal lurched forward, and in that instant
, the grandsons seemed to pulse with life, to tense like wolves. Jubal hesitated, licking his lips, his fingers convulsing.

“
I-I could pay half now and half on the return leg of your journey,” Jubal said.

Kedorlaomer didn
’t even appear to have heard. He spoke to Noah. “Surely then you wish to buy pure Havilah gold in order to fashion an idol of your god to put at the prow of your ship. Think, sir, of how pleased your god would be as he watched—”

“
No!” Noah said.

Kedorlaomer blinked, while his grandsons bristled at Noah
’s tone.

Ham grinned.

“Perhaps I didn’t make myself clear, sir,” Kedorlaomer said. “What I meant to say—”

“
Don’t you realize that idolatry is what has brought us to this pass?” Noah asked.

“
Sir?”

“
Idolatry. Serving others gods.”

Kedorlaomer glanced at his grandsons, and he seemed to collect himself as he twirled the end of his drooping mustaches
. “Do you mean the
bene elohim
, sir?”

“
Idolatry is serving any god other than Jehovah,” Noah said.

“
You mean He who was said to have created Adam and Eve?”

“
Yes,” Noah said. “Almost two thousand years ago Jehovah fashioned Adam out of the dust of the earth and breathed into him the breath of life.”

“
I have heard the fable, sir.”

“
But it is no fable,” Noah said.

“
Come now, sir. You and I, we understand how the world works. First was the darkness of eternal water, long eons of water, and then did the gods and goddesses form themselves out of the void. I know this to be true, sir, for I have spoken to one of the
bene elohim
. He was there at the beginning long ages ago, sir. Oh, what a frightful experience it was speaking with such a being of power.” Kedorlaomer shivered, and for a brief moment fear shone in his eyes. “But, no matter, no matter. You, it seems, have also spoken with a god.”

“
I have spoken with Jehovah,” Noah said gravely. “And I know that in your heart beats a knowledge of Him. You know, Kedorlaomer, and your grandsons surely know and understand that in the beginning, Jehovah formed them male and female, and in His love, He gave us a garden paradise. But sin entered in, brought by the dread tempter. But this ‘son of Jehovah’ that you apparently spoke to—he is a liar like the rest of that evil host.”

“
Evil is a relative term, sir.”

“
No,” Noah said. “Evil is disobedience of Jehovah.”

“
Surely you jest, sir. I see no Jehovah. In fact…” Kedorlaomer leaned forward, his dark eyes bright. “Let Jehovah strike me dead this instant if He lives. Now! Here! Before this ship that it’s said He commanded you to build.”

Everyone paused, holding
his or her breath.

“
Ah-ha,” Kedorlaomer said. “You see, Jehovah is not real. For if He was, surely in His dreadful power He would strike me dead for such daring.”

Unmoved,
Noah said, “Do you notice the sun, Kedorlaomer?”

“
Eh? What?”

“
Look up at the sun,” Noah said.

Slowly, as if suspecting a trick, Kedorlaomer did.

“Now look at your hand.”

“
Is this a joke?” Kedorlaomer asked crossly.

Noah thrust out his hand, a big, seamed leathery thing
. The way Noah twisted and moved his hand made it seem like a marvel, like a thing of wonderful design and utility.

“
Now what about the Ark?” Noah asked.

Kedorlaomer shook his head, his suspicious eyes burning.

“I have built it these many years,” Noah said.

“
So people say.”

“
As I have built the Ark,” Noah said, “so Jehovah has made the sun, although much more quickly. In fact, Jehovah fashioned the sun in a single day.”

“
Well, of course a god built the sun,” Kedorlaomer said. “The Sun God built it and now he lives there, warring against the others gods and goddesses and demanding sacrifices from us so he will continue to shine his light upon us. But I think that you are wrong to say that he built it in a day. Over long ages, sir, was the sun made. Thus the illustration of your ship is in this regard more precise than you think.” Kedorlaomer grinned. “After all, you didn’t build this ship in a day.”

“
Tell me, Kedorlaomer, how did this Sun God come about?”

“
I have already said, sir. He formed himself out of the eternal water.”

“
But that is sheer nonsense,” Noah said. “I might as well say that my Ark has formed itself from the ground. Things do not make themselves. They are fashioned by an outside entity.”

“
Who made your Jehovah then?”

“
No one,” Noah said. “He always was.”

Kedorlaomer laughed sharply.

“Either eternal water always was or Jehovah always was. To say that water or any matter just formed things, that it—” Noah snapped his fingers “—that it just started creating itself, that is sheer and laughable nonsense. Any event needs as strong a cause to have started it. For instance, the Ark is being built. I am the cause. That ruby you showed me has been cut. You didn’t find it in such a state, but a skillful jeweler shaped it. The sun and the world and the
bene elohim
you spoke with, all those need a cause greater than themselves, and that cause is Jehovah.”

“
Where is your proof of this, sir?”

“
The fact of our existence proves it.”

“
You spout sophistry, sir.”

“
Your knowledge of good and evil also tells you that this is so,” Noah said.

“
My good or your good, sir? For everyone knows that good and evil are relative terms.”

“
Jehovah’s good, which since He has put that knowledge in both our hearts we both understand.”

“
I’ve already told you that I don’t believe in Jehovah. Or rather that He is one among many.”

“
Then you are a liar, Kedorlaomer,” Noah said without rancor.

The old nomad
’s eyes grew round indeed while his grandsons scowled.

“
Why do you bristle?” Noah asked. “In your heart you know I’m right.”

“
You-you impugn my name and then dare to ask me that?” Kedorlaomer shouted.

“
Is it wrong for me to impugn your name?” Noah asked.

Kedorlaomer
’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “I will avenge my name with blood.”

“
First be certain that you aren’t lying,” Noah suggested. “If we both have different concepts of good and evil how can my differences bother you? Or is it rather you know that you lie when you say you don’t believe in Jehovah and that my bringing it to your attention pricks your conscience? After all, a hardened heart loathes to be reminded that its first allegiance should be to Jehovah, the Creator of everything.”

“
Enough!” Kedorlaomer shouted, springing to his feet.

The three big hounds also sprang up, their fur bristling as they growled
. Noah’s sons and their cousins scrambled to their feet, as did Kedorlaomer’s grandsons. No one had drawn weapons, but a fierce energy sizzled among them.

Much more slowly and in a dignified manner, Noah rose
. He gripped his gopher-wood staff and settled his deep, blue eyes upon the wizened son of Cain. “This day you are to be warned, O Kedorlaomer, you and your grandsons. Know that Jehovah has grown wroth with humanity. But as importantly for you, O Kedorlaomer, Jehovah watches what you are about. Never doubt that He sees your treacheries, your sly deceits that you practice on the unwary. Yes, that you gained your cargo through death and thievery is plain. You think to entice young Jubal to your camp and there enslave him. That will not happen, I assure you. What you must now consider, O Kedorlaomer, is the price you wish to pay for your sins. Turn, I say, from theft, turn from swiftly drawn daggers and from your base cunning. Draw near to Jehovah. Beg Him to forgive you your many sins. Then stay with me and help me work on the Ark. And when the dreadful day arrives you will have a berth and survive the coming flood.”

“
Flood?” Kedorlaomer fairly screeched.

“
There is a flood coming, O Kedorlaomer, a world-wide deluge that will destroy all mankind, together with the beasts of the field, the birds of the air and all creeping things.”

“
You’re mad!” the old nomad hissed.

“
Though your sins be as scarlet,” Noah said, “the Lord will yet forgive you.”

Kedorlaomer snatched up his
dagger, the razor-edge glinting in his hand. Before anyone could move, he darted like a snake at Noah.

Noah seemed to step lazily out of the way, and his gopher-wood staff spun in his hands
. It all seemed to happen in slow motion: Kedorlaomer lunging forward, his knife-hand outthrust—the end of the gopher-wood staff cracking against the nut-brown wrist—the curved dagger tumbling end-over-end onto the leather mat—Kedorlaomer reeling backward into the hands of his grandsons.

“
Go,” Noah said. “Depart this place while you are able.”

A mewl of pain escaped Kedorlaomer as he cradled his broken hand
. The grandsons glared with rage. But with the hounds growling and baring their teeth and with Noah towering, holding his staff crosswise…

“
Don’t think that—” began the meanest looking grandson.

Noah lifted a single admonitory finger
. “No more words unless you wish to repent of your ways to Jehovah.”

The narrowness of their eyes showed the likeliness of that
. They turned to go.

“
Of course,” Noah said, “you must leave without the slaves.”

Kedorlaomer whirled back around and stared at Noah in wonder
. “Now you would cheat us of our property?”

Noah leaned upon his staff and gazed calmly into the nomad
’s eyes.

Kedorlaomer dropped his gaze
. “I will not forget this, sir.”

“
I know,” Noah said. “But I hope you will leave these parts without any acts of vengeance. Surely, you have felt Jehovah’s presence here. So if you would live out the days granted you then you’ll do as I say.”

Kedorlaomer hissed to his grandsons, and they hurried from under the awning and toward the north gate.

Ham stepped up. “You’d better release the hounds before they turn around and take out their bows.”