Even so, he knew death awaited all those who refused to worship the Assyrian or take his mark; and that dreadful time was just a few short years ahead.
Many of the family had already paid the ultimate sacrifice. No matter how they died, if they kept themselves pure from accepting the mark, they would have an eternal future; but if not, their future would forever be entwined with the Assyrian’s and suffer the same fate.
Hakham could feel the gentle stirring of Jehovah’s love, drawing him back from his tragic past and now as leader of the family, he had to live constantly in tune with Jehovah’s will and not become focused on the troubles of the near future. As he uttered quiet words of worship to Jehovah, a bubbling joy overwhelmed him.
Something had changed.
Expectation and new hope bristled in the back of his mind.
*~*~*~*
Chapter 34
Mealtimes in the family kitchen were busy and a full time job for the kitchen leader and those rostered on to help. She, with her rostered team, prepared and cleaned up after six meals in two shifts throughout the day.
It was Hakham’s policy not to have more than half the family gathered in one spot at any given time, should the Alama Masu inadvertently find their way into the underground gathering and attack; thus leaving a remnant to carry on the rescues and offering an alternative Godly lifestyle to the barbarism and deceit of the Alama Masu.
The loss of Finn’s leadership and presence was a significant blow to the family fabric and all family members were affected by his absence. The traumatic disappearance of such a high profile and strong member of the family served as a wakeup call and an indicator of just how vulnerable their lives really were and at any unguarded moment, tragedy could strike.
To make things worse, the family were considered by the one world government as an illegal extremist group that offered a substantial risk to the safety and security of the new world order. So any attack on the family members were not only condoned but encouraged by the charismatic Assyrian, and anyone executing a family member was considered to be carrying out a service to god and a hero to the faith.
Heather sauntered into the kitchen with her two new sisters in tow, ready to roster on and start the day’s work. As an experienced member of the family, it was her responsibility to instruct the girls on practices and procedures, but before she could gather her fraying thoughts, Elly noticed her downcast expression and wondered whether she was suffering another bout of grief at Finn’s continued absence or if she just wasn’t well.
“Are you okay, Heather?” Elly asked, the concern for her new sister showing clearly across her face.
When Heather finally lifted her head to acknowledge Elly’s question, the corner of her eyes were moist. She hesitated for a moment, before laying down the cause. “Finn and I were rostered on at the same time and we used to have a lot of fun together, but now kitchen duty just pierces my heart,” she admitted dejectedly.
Elly wrapped Heather in a warm hug and held her for a long time, trying desperately to allay her suffering. “I know we’re a poor second choice, but we can surely find some fun to get into.”
Heather giggled away her melancholy thoughts and broke from Elly’s hug, wiping her eyes at the same time. “I don’t think Cook would allow a pillow fight in her kitchen, Elly.”
“Well, you never know what mischief we girls can find,” Elly peered over at Eliana and invited her to join in the encouragement.
“Of course, Heather, peeling ancient tree roots may just have a comedic side,” Eliana peered at a large tray and wondered what fun could possibly be involved in that task.
Then from behind the girls, a familiar voice entered the conversation, sending Eliana into a bedazzled spin and preening her luxurious locks relentlessly with her fingers.
“Looks like we’re working together, ladies,” Caleb grinned, stealing a generous adoring glance sideways at Eliana.
“Caleb!” Heather and Elly exclaimed together while an infatuated sigh announced Eliana’s greeting.
Elly and Heather stared at each other in amusement until Elly shot down the stars floating in Eliana’s eyes. “Close your mouth, Eliana; you’re starting to drool and that’s not an attractive look,” Elly whispered.
“Elly!” Eliana whispered back, glancing sideways at Caleb. “You’re embarrassing me!”
It didn’t take long for Caleb’s tongue to extend between his teeth too and before long, Caleb and Eliana were flirting unashamedly, laughing and giggling at the slightest things and standing as close to each other as a crowded kitchen would allow. Cook had to berate the two young people for too much noise and not enough production, but she was delighted and approved of the antics of fledgling attraction in her kitchen.
It had been a busy morning cooking, cleaning, serving and mingling among the family; Caleb and Eliana hadn’t noticed the morning passing and each new chore seemed to bring them closer.
Heather’s mood swung between giggling laughter and envious melancholy as she watched Eliana and Caleb flirting and enjoying the pheromones igniting like fireworks across the kitchen. It had been like this with Finn, too. Quickly glancing around the faces, she settled her back against a bench, hoping for a brief moment to herself to remember the man who had stolen her heart.
Caleb glanced around in full-on flirt from one of Eliana’s innocent funny games and his gaze briefly settled on Heather, understanding full well her loss.
Caleb’s jesting abruptly turned to compassion, striding over to Heather and pulling her into an all encompassing hug, with Eliana watching the scene with a flash of envy. Realising the depth of compassion instilled in the man she was falling in love with, she joined the hug and before long, all the kitchen staff had surrounded Heather and lent their arms to their hurting sister.
Once the cavern of dining emptied, Cook placed a meal for each one of the team on a table, gathering together to enjoy some time in each other’s company before the next round started in an hour or so. Caleb and Eliana instinctively drew up a seat next to each other while Cook, Heather and Elly sat opposite the two new friends. Cook sighed heavily as she lowered herself to the seat, relieving her aching feet, and then called across to Caleb to give thanks for the meal. Once everyone had begun to eat, Cook glanced across at Caleb and then Eliana, attempting to encourage the couple with a story.
“You know, Eliana, there is something you should be aware of about the family,” Cook started and then held Eliana’s inquisitive gaze. “There is a tradition among the family that when a young man fancies a young woman, he makes his intentions known by approaching the girl’s father and asks for the right to search the path of the Altar Rose. The rose is a shy bloom, beautiful beyond description and only grows in a special cave somewhere in the extensive tunnel system and under Jehovah’s light. It is said that only true love ever finds the shy and reclusive flower; and if it is found in the presence of soul mates, then once picked, it replants itself forever in the hearts of the two lovers, and binds their love with unbreakable bonds.”
“Wow! What a lovely story!” Eliana sighed. “Is it true?”
“Nobody knows, although some among the family lay claim to finding the cave and the rose,” Cook replied.
Caleb’s eyes twinkled, intending to awe Eliana even more. “The cave exists; I think I found it a couple of days ago, far beyond the last hand grips, but I don’t recall seeing any flowers.”
All attention settled on Caleb as he set about to explain his find and by the time he had finished, four sets of female eyes were dazzled by his enchanting description.
The call back to work began another round of frivolity behind the kitchen scene and before long, the day had closed after the final evening meal and everyone was tired.
“Can I escort you ladies home?” Caleb offered, with a hidden ulterior motive.
Elly answered before Eliana could accept Caleb’s offer, fully aware of his reasons for offering. “I think we...” nodding to Eliana, ??
?would be honoured to have your company, sir.”
Elly locked her arm around Heather’s and they walked off together, closely followed by Caleb and Eliana. After an exhausted hug and parting adieu, Heather and Elly left Caleb and Eliana talking at the family chamber door. But only at Dad’s insistence some hours later, did Eliana finally consider saying goodnight to the handsome Caleb and retiring to bed.
When Eliana finally wriggled into bed, Elly and Heather had already retired. “Elly, Heather, are you asleep?” Eliana whispered.
“Not anymore,” Elly jested, figuring Eliana wanted to discuss her developing feelings for Caleb. Elly could just make out Eliana’s delicate features and her long hair in the limited light of the family chamber.
“You guys are my confidantes, right...? He’s the one...! I know he is...! And that story today about the Altar Rose just made my heart tingle!” Eliana sighed in hushed delight.
Elly threw back her blanket and stooped to hug Eliana. “He’s just smitten with you too, Eliana; you’re a lucky girl and I’m happy for you.”
Soon Heather joined the hug, but a pang of envy stabbed at her heart. Now that Finn was gone and even if she went in search of the elusive rose with someone else, it would never be with her soul mate; and the Altar Rose would remain hidden from her, forever.
*~*~*~*
Chapter 35
The day had been busier than usual around the kitchen. Hakham had finally deserted his post holding vigil in front of the altar, while crowds had gathered around him in the cavern of dining, hoping to glean some understanding of what the esteemed elder’s movements really meant. Hakham couldn’t relay the meaning of the renewed hope he held, but he knew Jehovah had done something… and it wouldn’t be long before He revealed it.
Heather translated Hakham’s meaning as deserting all hope that Finn would ever return and life would go on as normal without him. The thought tore at her heart, but she knew life would go on for her, dragged along by the current of never ending drudge and forever devoid of love. Deciding to leave the past in Jehovah’s hands and remain single and true to the memory of the man she loved, she would devote herself instead to selflessly serving Jehovah and others.
Eliana and Caleb lived in a private world of two, constantly interrupted and berated by Cook to keep their minds on the job. Caleb was often caught stealing infatuated long looks at the outline of the woman he loved, instead of concentrating on his task: the exquisite lines of her fine cheekbones; impish nose with the tip turned up just ever so slightly; soft, luxurious long hair and brown eyes that knocked him for six; clear smooth skin and two thinly textured velvety red lips that just begged to be kissed.
A chorus of giggles from behind Caleb drew his attention back to the kitchen and he realised he had been caught out again. Eliana turned toward the ruckus just in time to see Caleb avert his adoring stare. Eliana smiled an innocent smile and flushed red, realising he had been staring at her again and hoping he liked what he saw.
The day finally came to an exhausted end with the girls once again escorted back to their chamber. Elly and Heather left the two beaus cooing at the chamber door and entered the room throwing their casual, “Goodnight, Caleb,” over their shoulders as they departed, but receiving no response.
Heather searched the chamber for dirty washing, collecting it into a large bag then turned her attention toward Elly. “Do you have any washing you want done, Elly?”
“You can’t be serious, Heather; you’ve just finished a full day on kitchen roster!”
“I guess I just want some time alone and the laundry needs to be done; doing the laundry at the washing stream will be cathartic and kill two birds with one stone,” Heather replied glumly.
Elly smothered Heather in a big hug. “Oh, precious lady, I wish there was something I could do to ease your pain!”
Heather returned Elly’s hug, pressing one hand full of dirty washing against Elly’s back.
“Tell you what, Heather, and only if you want. I’ll help you do the washing and we can talk; it might help to get some of these painful, debilitating emotions out in the open. You know, woman to woman.”
Heather tightened her hug on Elly and after thinking about Elly’s offer, she decided a woman to woman talk would be a welcome reprieve from the tightly wound despair she carried. After all, she was beginning to see Elly like a twin sister, soft and trusting–and wise too. “Thank you, Elly; I think I would like that,” Heather finally conceded.
As the two women carried an enormous bag between them, they attempted to squeeze past the chamber doorway and out into the passage that led to the washing stream without losing their load.
Oblivious to her surrounds, Eliana stretched her small frame standing on her tiptoes, wrapping her arms around Caleb’s neck and with her soft brown eyes closed in ecstatic rapture. Caleb engulfed her petite form in his embrace and pressed his hungry lips to hers, tasting the pure wine of her innocent love. Entangled in embryonic ardour and lost in the explosive wildfire of their first passionate kiss, the world melted into a furious blur and the two hearts pounded, melding together as one.
As Heather and Elly pushed past the scene unnoticed, the intense heat of desire radiated into the tunnel, threatening to ignite the air around them in the fury of a consuming, white hot flame.
*~*~*~*
The dappled light, gentle peace and splashing trickle of the washing stream enticed comfort and drew the deep pain to the surface of Heather’s broken heart.
Another older member of the family had just finished her chores and was packing up her cleaned clothes into a weaved basket. As she left, she pressed a compassionate hug into Heather’s embrace and whispered encouragingly into Heather’s ear. Heather nodded appreciatively as she broke from the older woman’s encouragement and then with a hug for Elly, the older woman left the two young women to their work.
It took a few moments, soaking up the ambience and the intense silence for Heather to gather her thoughts. She removed her sandals and then stood ankle deep in the pure and warm, slowly moving water, found a suitable rock to sit on then gathered a garment into her hands, gently soaping it before manipulating the cloth against another smooth rock.
Elly silently followed her lead and sat beside Heather with another garment and gently rubbed the cloth against a rock. She stole a sideways glance at Heather but didn’t speak, allowing her to open up when she was ready.
Heather abruptly started with a flat, emotionless voice that reverberated around the tiny cavern. “I’ve loved Finn ever since he rescued me and Dad from that terrible day, nearly four years ago. The Alama Masu abused my beautiful mother and then murdered her right in front of our eyes. But we knew she had suffered badly, because she wouldn’t even look at us just before they killed her. Dad died that day with her; and I can still see the brutalised look on her face as she was forced to kneel over that block… she was a lot like you, Elly.”
Heather and Elly stopped working as a painful choke gasped at the back of Heather’s throat, followed by two soft plink, plinks as Heather’s tears dropped quietly into the warm water.
It took a moment for Heather to regain her composure and start the story again.
“I was only thirteen when Finn brought us here; and the family adopted us without reserve. I lost one mother and gained a multitude. The ladies of the family practically raised me, and the men helped Dad to find a way through his minefield. Finn was a lot older than me and it wasn’t until recently that he even noticed the skinny kid had matured into a woman. Even so, I was sure he held a deep regard for me; and just before he left on the secret raid, I was nearly certain he was going to ask me to walk the path in search of the Altar Rose.”
Elly choked up and swallowed Heather in a hug and began to cry. “I’m so sorry, Heather. If I could give you back Finn and take his place in death, then I would do it without a second thought.”
The women wept together for many moments, until Heather spoke again. “It’s not your fault, E
lly; Jehovah wanted it this way and besides, you and Eliana are precious, precious daughters of Jehovah too. I am already starting to appreciate both you and Eliana as beloved sisters; anyway, Eliana has stolen Caleb’s heart and I’m guessing there will be an attempt to walk the path in search of the Altar Rose very soon.”
The washing continued relentlessly for many long moments without another spoken word, both girls blinded by tears as they worked the soapy garments against the smooth rocks.
Until Heather’s emotional voice broke the silence once again. “Tell me about your friend, Elly; the one who is still looking for you back at Baal Malii.”
Elly’s emotions flowed over again at the thought of Dramble’s tortured search and it took many moments to think through the crazy story and make sense of it, not only for Heather, but for Elly too. After many confused moments, Elly tried to piece together the story as she knew it, but as she did, many bewildering questions entered her mind, questions she had forgotten about through the trauma of her abduction and her close escape from a pending, horrific death.
A big sigh interrupted the stream’s gentle babble and echoed around the chamber; Elly’s mind was confused trying to remember details. “I... I was travelling with some people I didn’t know very well and one of them made a grab for me; I... I think he had amorous intent but I didn’t want his advances a... and there was some kind of accident.”
Elly’s expression was tense and staring, until Heather’s hand on her arm startled her, trying to convey comfort. Elly turned toward Heather’s compassionate face and smiled, drawing Elly out of the confusion before she regained her thoughts and continued.
“All I can remember is waking up in the ruins and Dramble was there; he was ever so gentle with me and so concerned. He has the softest grey eyes I’ve ever seen and he looks like a little boy, but speaks and acts like a man–and strong too! He carried me as if I was a weightless rag doll when I stumbled over my big feet and rolled my ankle. Anyway, we heard some kind of commotion among the ruins and quickly decided we needed to find shelter. After hours of searching we found a suitable place to hide but that night, we heard someone fossicking among the rubble and in the morning, we found a small table out among the ruins and on top of it was all these strange tubes.”