Tentatively, the young people peered around the dark cavern, unable to see the light Caleb had spoken of.
Finn and Elly pushed further into the cave and turned a bend, when a skinny white beam illuminated a patch of soil and drew them to its majesty in total disbelief. As they approached, a beautiful pale face seemed to smile at the couple in greeting and just below the main bloom, a smaller shy bloom attached to the same stem offered a joyous greeting and smiled back at them.
The scene was electric with tenderness and the two rose blooms seemed to beckon the couple to pick the enchanting blossoms.
Finn reached down to the retiring flowers and plucked the single stem from its soil, redirecting the thin white light over Elly and him, and sparkling like an electric storm.
Elly was confused at the meaning of the rose’s tale; she understood it was Jehovah’s blessing over a couple, but it just didn’t seem right or make sense. Although she wanted the green-eyed man desperately, she knew in her heart that Heather was right for Finn, and Jehovah would not bless any other union.
Finn gently took Elly’s hand and with the single stem and the two blooms, they exited the Altar Rose’s home and resurfaced into the main cave, catching Caleb and Eliana in a tender moment and clutching their single blossom sandwiched between them.
*~*~*~*
Heather had spent the morning with Hakham, listening to his exhortation but she was distracted, replaying Finn’s passion for her as they were reunited. Finn had openly displayed the regard she was so sure existed between them and in front of the whole community too; but now she was anxious to replay the tender moment in person and feel his passion once again, instead of just in her boiling memory.
Understanding Jehovah’s plan, Hakham watched Heather leave with concern. She was like a daughter to him and the last thing he wanted was more pain for the young woman. She was a tender heart and beautiful to behold, but Finn had to take his part in the lessons Jehovah was about to teach.
Excitedly, Heather ran down the passageways and into the dining chamber, but it was empty.
She stood staring around the hall and wondered where everyone had gone. Then turning her attention to another possible gathering place, she focused her mind on the family chamber, believing her man would be waiting for her there among the others. But as she turned breathlessly into the family home, it too was empty.
She leaned against the rocky wall, catching her breath, when Dramble stepped up behind her and startled her.
“Sorry, Heather, I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
“That’s alright, Dramble. Have you seen Finn and the others?” Heather asked expectantly.
“No! But I know where they went,” Dramble’s sharp grey eyes turned slightly dull and Heather noticed.
“Where?!” she insisted.
“They’ve gone in search of the cave Caleb found last week,” Dramble muttered, unimpressed.
“The cave!” Heather began to think through the implications of Dramble’s speech and then her heart tore. “Was Finn with them?!” thinking she already knew the answer before he spoke.
Dramble nodded. “Elly, too!”
Heather peered around her surrounds in shock, hoping this didn’t mean what she thought it did.
Reason escaped through a tiny window in her emotions and then she fell to the floor, heartbroken. Was Finn just playing with her emotions last night when he seemed to offer his love to her in front of the whole gathering?
Heather’s face crumpled while a storm of emotions began to rumble in her heart. A tear of betrayal slipped down her stunning features and left Dramble worried for the beautiful young woman, struggling to contain the gathering typhoon. Heather’s teary eyes caught a soft spot in Dramble’s heart, but before he could consol her any further, she erupted from the family chamber, running and sobbing as she flashed past the sanctuary and towards the never lands of the deep tunnels.
*~*~*~*
Chapter 40
The journey back into the family community had taken Caleb a little longer than expected. He panicked at one stage when the dark passageway led him into an unfamiliar uphill grade, but thanks to Finn’s exceptional memory and ability to navigate, they found the path again after backtracking.
Elly wasn’t taking any chances or giving Finn a reason to forget the promise he made to her back at the cave, taking Eliana’s free hand instead of Finn’s and allowing Caleb to guide both girls in the dark.
As the perilous expedition continued on towards its goal of returning back to the family, Elly kept puzzling over the meaning of the Altar Rose she and Finn had just found, that Finn now carried in his possession.
Caleb gave a sigh as his hand rubbed against the first guiding hand grip, relieved they were still on track. Moments later, the first flickering torch spilled light across their path and soon they were entering the family gathering.
As if Hakham was waiting for the intrepid explorers to return, a family member greeted the four young people and directed them to the sanctuary and Hakham’s patient figure. Caleb glanced at Eliana and wondered whether they were about to be disciplined.
Standing at the sanctuary door, they bowed to the altar and then entered. “You wanted to see us, Hakham?”
“Is Elly and Finn in your company?” Hakham’s deep voice reverberated into the quiet.
“Yes, but they wait outside in the passageway,” Caleb replied respectfully.
“Come, sit with me and show me what you have found,” Hakham rasped.
Eliana and Caleb kneeled by Hakham and then Caleb produced the magnificent pale face of the Altar Rose.
Hakham stared at her beauty and whispered, “Jehovah’s heart.”
Astounded and mesmerised by the innocent symbol of deep love, Hakham blessed the two recipients and placed his hands on Caleb’s and Eliana’s heads, proclaiming their betrothal.
Caleb’s heart was burning with pride for his bride, and Eliana was overcome with respect and adoration for her soon-to-be husband.
“Go in peace and let there be a celebration among the family; but please ask Finn to enter alone at first, Caleb.”
Caleb and Eliana nodded, then left Hakham’s presence, shortly after a desperate whispered conversation erupted at the doorway.
Finn entered the sanctuary and bowed his head to the altar, while Elly obediently waited in the passage.
Standing in Hakham’s presence, Finn whispered to the silent elder, ”You wished to see me, Hakham?”
“Tell me of your morning’s adventure, Finn,” Hakham’s baritone rumble echoed across the Lake of Purity.
Finn sighed, as if he was under interrogation from a parent, but he knew Hakham’s ability to read the truth and decided to tell it as it lay. He explained the cave and all its awesome beauty, the extent they went through to get there and even the games they played, but deliberately danced around the incident with Elly. Then he described how Caleb and Eliana found the Altar Rose, but said nothing of the find he and Elly had made. Then he waited in silence for Hakham to respond, once he had finished his story.
After a long, drawn out silence, Hakham finally spoke. “Tell me, Finn, is it right for Jehovah’s man to desire two beautiful women?”
Finn stared at Hakham, until his glower averted his eyes. He sighed and dropped his head, knowing somehow, Hakham knew of his indiscretion.
“I’m so confused at the moment, Hakham. I know I love Heather with all my heart, but I love Elly too and I know she loves me.”
“Then show me your prize,” Hakham’s baritone rasp demanded.
Finn stared at the elder, wondering how he knew about the bloom he and Elly had found together. He fidgeted with the hidden blossoms and then finally they appeared from under his belt. Hakham peered at the pale innocent blooms, spectacular in appearance and enchanting in emotion, but recognising its hidden meaning immediately.
Hakham spoke again, “Tell me, Finn, is it right for Jehovah’s man to desire two beautiful women?”
/> Finn dropped his head onto his chest in defeat and shook his head. “No, Hakham, it is not!”
“Then the beautiful rose you and Elly found has made your decision for you.”
Finn stared at Hakham, confused, until he could hold his gaze no longer. “I still don’t understand, Hakham.”
“Heather has been wounded by your perceived betrayal and run off into the deep tunnels, frightened and lost.”
Like a veil lifting from his heart, Finn’s feelings intensified for Heather, but the confused regard for Elly remained. No matter how he tried to reconcile a relationship with Elly, it just felt wrong. But Heather fitted him perfectly. He wanted to be with Heather desperately and in an approaching storm of emotion, he needed the woman he was increasingly sure was Jehovah’s choice for him. Finn’s heart was breaking and sorrow engulfed him, becoming increasingly agitated to calm the hurt and soothe the injury he had so carelessly inflicted on her. He wasn’t sure she would forgive him, but he was desperate to try. Finn’s eyes searched Hakham’s in a flurry of despair, until the piercing gaze diverted his gape again.
Hakham could see the desperation and eagerness in Finn’s eyes to leave the sanctuary in search of Heather. “I have sent Dramble to keep her company and calm her fear until you arrive. She needs you; now go to her and when you have talked to Dramble together, things will make sense. She is in a cave in the eastern tunnel, five thousand steps from the last hand grip.”
Finn almost panicked, imagining his beautiful Heather’s hurt face cringing from his love, and with a burning passion in his heart, Finn exited the sanctuary in haste but left behind the precious flower.
“Elly!” Hakham called.
Elly stepped into the sanctuary, watching Finn disappear from view and sprinting swiftly into the dark tunnels. She bowed her head in reverence to the altar and then stood to face the elder.
“Elly, come sit beside me and ponder a while with an old man.”
Elly slowly lowered herself to the rocky ledge beside the elder and then tried to hold his gaze, but the sheer authority steeled in his glower diverted her eyes. She concentrated on the glorious bloom Hakham had laid by his side instead, and wondered how Finn had explained its presence.
“Do you understand Jehovah’s Altar Rose?”
Elly shook her head and whispered, “No, Hakham, I don’t.”
“Then let me tell you a long story of suffering and missed opportunity and maybe then you will understand.” Hakham peered across the Lake of Purity and after a brief interlude, he began his lesson.
“The Book of Wisdom is Jehovah’s Bible and it has many hidden treasures for the astute student to discover. About thirty years ago, the world fell under a terrible financial crisis, orchestrated by a group of very powerful and evil men. All the world’s economies crumbled except for Jehovah’s jewel, Israel. Because Jehovah’s hand was and still is upon his bride, He spared her from the desperate poverty that befell the rest of the world and she prospered and grew very wealthy.
“Many people sought to insulate themselves from the world’s troubles by stockpiling cash; so those evil men manipulating the economies simply outlawed cash and the world drifted into the cashless society we now know and that was predicted thousands of years ago by the Book of Wisdom. As poverty’s grip tightened on the throat of the world’s people, anarchy reigned supreme and lawlessness exploded out of control. Not long after the financial collapse, Israel’s enemies and immediate neighbours surrounding her, attacked her with venomous hatred and wanted to annihilate her off the surface of the earth. But Jehovah stepped in and squashed her neighbours, leaving Israel to occupy their land and spread out. This was also prophesied in the words of Psalm 83; and Israel lived in peace and without walls.
“But jealousy and envy erupted again. This time, great nations of the world came together in an alliance, wanting to attack Jehovah’s jewel again and strip her of her riches. As a great nuclear force rattled its sabre against Israel, she once again defied her enemies and Jehovah spared her from nuclear destruction. But as so many nations had developed nuclear capability and while most of the world concentrated on the troubles surrounding Israel, many nations sought to exact revenge on their enemies. A great nuclear holocaust was unveiled around the earth and many nations simply ceased to exist.
“The earth’s great beauty and productive lands were reduced to radioactive deserts in a matter of hours, and many millions of people died horribly. Jehovah, however, used this tragic event to mask one of the greatest events in human history–apart from His Son’s death and sacrifice on the cross. The people belonging to Jesus Christ were Raptured off the earth at the same time, while those not belonging to Jesus evaporated in a nuclear cloud or burned to death where they stood. Again, this event was prophesied in the words of Ezekiel 38 and 39.”
Hakham paused as the memories came flashing back and then with a low rumble, he continued on, “Many who survived the events of that day suffered horribly: radiation poisoning, hunger, thirst, exposure to the elements as most housing and shelter had been destroyed. People survived whatever way they could, living in caves or the like. Food couldn’t be grown; the soil was irradiated and useless. Water was polluted and contaminated, and rain fell like burning drops of poison, killing people horribly from inside out if they drank of it.
“But then Israel herself developed the geodesic cities like Baal Malii and started building them to accommodate the displaced peoples of the world. However, satan’s man–The Assyrian–had already tantalised the ears of the survivors with his charismatic rhetoric, promising them all kinds of things that eased the suffering and drew the people together as a force to battle the odds and reunite the world under his rule and against Jehovah, whom he blamed for the world’s troubles. He has instigated a mark, the same ugly mark you have seen, Elly.”
Elly nodded, following Hakham’s story like he was reading from the daily newspaper.
“This mark would be a symbol of unity and an act of worship to satan, and if you refused his mark, you simply died of starvation or worse, tortured and beheaded. But only those who refused the mark had a good reason to–and that was their allegiance to Jehovah. He would not accept anyone into His coming Kingdom displaying satan’s mark, after the day satan was finally defeated. This, too, is prophesied in the Book of Wisdom.
“Eventually, the Assyrian and his plundering hordes captured the geodesic cities and instilled his people into the completed structures and murdered Jehovah’s people relentlessly. To make things worse, the Assyrian enforced a clever covenant with Jehovah’s people, Israel and deceived them into believing he was their long awaited Messiah and relieved them of much of their wealth. One of the things the coming Messiah was expected to do was to help them rebuild their temple to Jehovah, which he is doing now.
“It is prophesied, however, that he will turn against Jehovah’s people, Israel and force them to worship him in Jehovah’s place. This time will be the blackest time in history and people all over the world will suffer terribly at this man’s hands, much worse than you see around us now, Elly. Everyone who belongs to Jehovah will die... everyone... and die horribly! This dreadful time has already begun, Elly, and in fact we are living it now. In a few short years, everyone in the family will be tortured and murdered.”
Hakham began to weep bitterly, only adding to Elly’s shock. Once she realised the family she loved dearly would be murdered ruthlessly: Finn, Caleb, Eliana, Heather and all of the rest, she choked up and wept bitterly too.
The astringent tears slowly relented and Hakham regained his composure.
“Most of us here had the chance to follow Jesus and escape in the Rapture but found other reasons not to. Many watched loved ones perish horribly in the after effects of the great nuclear holocaust, but by then there was no hope or chance to escape into salvation. My dear friend, Yoni, was a powerbroker among the evil men planning all this destruction for his own selfish power and gain, enjoying a comfortable, self-indulgent lifestyle i
n the rebuilt city of Babylon but he never supposed it would turn on him. I remember his painful screams as radiation poisoning ate through his flesh and his intense desire to hate Jehovah because of it. The Book of Wisdom offers hope to those who missed the Rapture, but even to his last breath, Yoni refused to listen to the words written in its wise pages and entered death without any hope at all. It is very clear, though, not all people who refuse Jesus will get another chance after the Rapture; and we are blessed to be counted among those Jehovah has set aside and die as martyrs for the extreme privilege of eternal life.”
A figure at the sanctuary door bowed to the altar and then quietly entered, calling gently into the quiet. “Hakham?!”
Hakham cleared his throat and wiped away the tears of despair. “Come in, Louisse.”
Wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand, Elly stared at the middle aged woman, wondering why she had interrupted such an intense story and at a crucial part where Elly had so many questions.
Hakham stood to leave and handed Elly the Altar Rose. She took the precious bloom from the elder’s hand and pondered his reasons for leaving her with this unknown woman. Hakham read the questions in Elly’s eyes and promised, “I’ll be back once you two have had a chance to talk.”
*~*~*~*
Chapter 41
Hakham reverently slipped out of the sanctuary, leaving Louisse and Elly to bridge the awkward silence.
“May I sit with you, Elly?” Louisse whispered.
“Please,” Elly motioned to a space beside her.
Once Louisse was comfortable, she turned to face the piercing blue eyes full of questions. “The family call me Louisse, but that’s my middle name,” she choked on a memory, trying not to cause further angst for the blonde young woman; then steadying her thoughts, she regained her composure. “Just after turning eighteen, I had a baby to a man who used me. Soon after his child was born, I found out he had had babies to two other women. I was so devastated I exchanged my first name with my middle, trying to hide my shame.”