Noah Read Free

strides and so did Naameh, carrying baby Japheth.
    “Why are you helping us?” Ham asked the Watcher.
    “For many reasons,” Og explained as they moved along. “The Creator formed us on the second day, the day he made the heavens. We watched over the first humans, Adam and Eve, saw their love and also their frailty. When we saw theirfall, we pitied them. So we glided through the clouds, down to earth. We were not made of stone then, but of light.
    “It was not our place to help or interfere with humankind. It was our choice. And for that the Creator punished us. We turned to stone and became bound to your world. Still, we taught humankind all we knew of Creation.
    “With our help, people rose from the dust. But then they turned our gifts into violence and destruction. When we were chased into this dark land, only one man protected us.” He looked at Noah. “That was Methuselah.”
    Ila remembered Shem saying this name… Was that the name of Noah’s grandfather?
    “Most of us were killed—hunted for the light within us, known as tzohar,” Og went on. “We begged the Creator to take us back into heaven, but He stayed silent. And now…”
    Noah shifted Ila in his arms as the giant went on.
    “And now, you, Noah, claim to have heard His call. Our leader, Samyaza, cannot accept this. How could the Creator call to a man, when it is men who have broken this world?” Og’s voice softened. “But I look at you, Noah, and I see a glimmer of Adam—the man I knew, the man I came to help.”
    Ila dozed as they walked further along. At last they came to the foot of a mountain. It was green, rising above the empty dark plain. Ila thought she could see a few caves at the very top.
    Noah set her down on a soft spot on the ground and then helped Naameh set up their camp.
    “Shem and I will go alone to see Methuselah,” Noah informed the others. “The rest of you will stay here until we return.”
    Ham’s face fell. “Why can’t I go too, Father?” he asked.
    Noah kneeled to talk to him. “I need you to look after Mother.”
    Ham still looked disappointed. But obediently, he nodded. “I will, Father.”
    Naameh kissed Shem goodbye and then tapped him playfully on the nose. “And you look after Father!” she said teasingly.
    They waved goodbye and started toward the mountain. As they passed Og, Ila saw Noah lean in to speak to the Watcher. “Will you watch over my family?” she heard him ask.
    The giant nodded and spread out his arms. Now Ila could see that the strange-looking Watcher had not two, but six stony arms!
    “Yes,” Og answered with a faint smile. “They are in good hands.”
    * * *
    While Shem and Noah were on the mountain, Ila rested. Naameh brought her some food and water, and checked her wound from time to time.
    “You are healing, little one,” Naameh said soothingly. “Soon you will be much stronger.”
    Without Shem there for company, Ila played with Hamfor a while. They took turns telling stories to one another and building towers out of rocks and sticks.
    Later, Ila tried to nap again. Nearby, inside the tent, Naameh was nursing the baby.
    Ila watched Naameh hold the tiny bundle close to her.
    Mother. Father
.
    Grief cut through her, and Ila could not hold back her tears any longer. She could not believe they were gone.
    Her family had always been working, wandering the land in search of food and grain and shelter. It was not an easy life.
    But her parents had taught her to be strong.
    There is too much to do for us to dwell on what is hard
, her father always told her.
Fill your mind with what is good, Ila, the things you love.
    She rolled over and closed her eyes. She could easily picture Father’s dancing eyes and his strong arms… how his beard tickled her when he lifted her up to his face.
    And Mother… her quick smile and easy laugh. She sang so sweetly to Ila and was patient when she taught her how to stitch clothing and gather food.
    Now she knew what Father had meant.
    These