Noah Read online

He smiled at her, amused. “All that creeps, all that crawls, all that slithers.”

  Ila shivered. She didn’t like reptiles much either.

  After they had loaded the new arrivals on to the Ark and sealed the hatch, Ila hurried after Ham.

  “So what did your father say about getting you a wife?” she asked him with a grin.

  He looked at her in surprise. “How did you know that’s what I was asking Father?”

  “An educated guess.”

  “Well, he did not say much,” Ham replied. “I reminded him that Shem has you, he has Mother, and even the birds have mates. But what of me? And what of Japheth? What is there for us?”

  “Yes,” Ila agreed with a nod. “It will be lonely for you and Japheth. What was Noah’s response?”

  “He reminded me of all the Creator has done. How He sent wood for the Ark and sent the animals here too. Father believes that the Creator sends us all we need.”

  “Did that satisfy you?” Ila asked him.

  Ham shrugged. “I will be satisfied when our wives arrive.”

  Ila smiled again. “Perhaps Noah was talking about patience. If you are patient, the Creator will eventually send what you need.”

  And send it to me too, she thought, remembering the issue that was coming between her and Shem.

  4

  AS THE DAYS PASSED, ILA AND HER FAMILY ALL CONTINUED working on the Ark, nailing the last boards, tarring the roof, cleaning and preparing the animals’ homes.

  But Ila felt a new urgency in the air. Their time was running out, and they all knew it. The storm would be here soon.

  One day Noah sent Ham and Japheth into the woods to collect kindling. Ila helped Naameh stir hot tar so Shem could lay it on the Ark.

  As they worked, Ila noticed Naameh glance toward the woods several times

  “Are you worried about the boys?” Ila finally asked her.

  Naameh nodded. “They should have returned by now. They have been gone for a long time.”

  “Perhaps they are playing a game or chasing deer,” Ila reassured her. “I’m sure they will return soon.”

  Soon Ila headed into the woods herself to collect buckets she had hung on trees for sap. Just then Japheth burst through the trees, racing toward the clearing. He was alone.

  “Father! Father!” he yelled.

  Noah looked up from where he was helping the Watchers stack firewood.

  “A huge man came to us in the woods!” Japheth’s words tumbled out. “He has battle scars everywhere, and there were warlords and families with him. The man is still talking to Ham. I think he is coming here now!”

  Noah held up a hand to make Japheth slow down. Then he made Japheth repeat everything more slowly.

  Noah nodded and ordered everyone to stay near the ramp. “Hide there. All of you.”

  Ila hurried up the ramp behind Shem.

  From her vantage point, she could soon see movements along the tree line. Then a band of people—about fifty or more warlords—stepped into the clearing. Behind them were some women and families. As they came closer, she saw that a powerful-looking man gripped Ham’s shoulder.

  Ila drew in a breath. Japheth was right. The man with Ham looked terrifying. He was huge and muscular, his body covered in battled-dented armor. Scars marked his face, and something about his expression instantly chilled her.

  “Who’s that?” she whispered to Shem. He just shook his head, his eyes frozen on the frightening scene unfolding before their eyes.

  Ham walked stiffly, looking uneasy, Ila thought, but not exactly afraid. Ham held something in his hand.

  Noah stood tall as he faced the man and his band of warlords. “Ham,” he said calmly. “Come here.”

  But the man tightened his grip on Ham, a smile curling along his lips. “Do not take my best soldier.”

  “He is nothing of yours,” Noah retorted.

  “Look at his hand on that weapon,” the man said. Now Ila could see that Ham was holding an axe. “I believe he is something of mine.”

  “Ham,” Noah said forcefully this time.

  Ham slowly stepped away from the stranger.

  “Leave the weapon there,” his father commanded.

  “No,” Ham said stubbornly. “He gave it to me.”

  “Do as I tell you!” Noah ordered.

  Ham hesitated for another minute and then tossed down the axe. Embarrassed and angry, he stomped past his father, heading toward Ila and the others on the Ark.

  As Ham marched away, the stranger turned his gaze to the Ark. “When I heard the talk of miracles, I dismissed it,” he remarked. “But then with my own eyes, I saw the massive flock of birds fill the sky. They were flying here, to your Ark. So I had to come.”

  “There isn’t anything for you here,” Noah declared.

  “Actually…” The warlord gestured around the clearing with his arms. “This all belongs to me. This land, this forest…” He scoffed as he looked at the Ark. “As well as that stronghold of yours. Did you really think you could protect yourself from me in that ship?”

  “The ship is not protection from you.”

  “Then what is it?”

  “An ark,” Noah replied. “To hold the innocent when the Creator sends His deluge to wipe the wicked from this world.”

  “The Creator!” The man scoffed again. “The Creator does not care what happens to this world. Nobody has heard from Him since He marked Cain!”

  Ila knew the story of Cain, how he had been one of the twin sons of Adam and Eve. Cain had killed his twin brother, perhaps due to jealousy when the Creator had seemed more pleased with Abel. The murder of Abel had made Cain the world’s first murderer. The Creator marked Cain so that others would not exact vengeance.

  “We are alone!” the sinister stranger declared. “We are orphaned children, cursed to struggle by the sweat of our brows to survive.” The man looked around the clearing again. “Damned if I don’t do everything it takes to do just that!”

  At those words, Ila saw Noah suddenly snap to attention. Noah recognizes him!

  “You are Tubal-cain!” Noah burst out. “Descendant of Cain!”

  Tubal-cain? Ila thought in surprise. She knew that name from Shem, who had related the story of his father’s family many times. Tubal-cain was the vicious leader of the warlords—and the man who had killed Lamech, Noah’s father, at the ancient temple!

  Noah’s face clouded with anger as Tubal-cain peered at him more closely. “We have met?” the warlord leader asked.

  Noah shouted to the men gathered behind Tubal-cain. “I am the son of Lamech!”

  Tubal-cain fingered an old snakeskin that was wrapped around his shoulders. Ila could see that he was taunting Noah.

  “Eight generations descended from Seth,” Noah told him. “Return now to your cities of Cain. Know we have all been judged.”

  Tubal-cain looked surprised at Noah’s response. Ila had the feeling that most people simply obeyed the warlord’s orders. “I have men at my back and you stand there alone and defy me?”

  The barest hint of a smile crossed Noah’s face. “I am not alone,” he said.

  Ila could see that the Watchers had spread themselves out around the Ark, where they were camouflaged to look like large rock formations. Now, at Noah’s words, they all stood up.

  When Tubal-cain’s troops saw the huge creatures, they backed away in panic.

  “Do not fear, my people!” Tubal-cain called. “Don’t be afraid! Stand!”

  He glanced at the Ark again, and then at the forest and the Watchers. His eyes narrowed. “So His minions are here with you,” he said thoughtfully. Then he scanned the sky. “You claim miracles have happened, and soon there will be a deluge?” He looked back at Noah. “Well, perhaps you are right. Perhaps casting us out of Paradise was not enough for the Creator. Perhaps He will return to finish us off. And, if he does…” His eyes drifted back to the Ark. “I will ride out the storm in that ship of yours!”

  Noah shook his head. “There
is no escape for you and your kind. Your time is done.” He spun around.

  “The land is dying,” Tubal-cain called after him. “The cities are dead. My people follow me, and more will follow them. I am not afraid of miracles, son of Lamech. If you refuse my dozens of people now, I will return with legions!”

  Ila and Shem locked eyes. The warlord would return, with more men? A shiver of fear went through her.

  Noah ignored the other man’s threat and just continued striding toward the Ark. Still, as he approached, Ila could see worry creasing his brow.

  * * *

  Shem and Ila searched the Ark, looking for Ham. Shem was eager to learn more about how Ham had met Tubal-cain.

  They found him near the reptiles. His face was still flushed and angry.

  Shem stormed up to him. “What were you thinking, Ham? To speak to Father like that! And to take a weapon from that man?”

  Ham glared at Shem.

  “How do you know him?” Ila asked, trying to defuse the tension building between the brothers.

  “I was in the woods,. gathering kindling. Japheth and I saw some girls. It turned out they were with the families of the warlord. I’m sure you’re aware,” Ham went on bitterly, “Father has done nothing about getting wives for Japheth and me.”

  “What did that man say to you?” Shem demanded.

  “He said he was the king, even though Father says there can be no king in the Creator’s garden. Then he gave me the axe and said it was mine, if I wanted it.”

  Shem shook his head, looking away. “How could you talk to him, Ham? And take an axe, stained with blood from so many men?”

  “Why not?” Ham retorted, furious. “You have a wife already, Shem. You have a future. While I… I… Never mind. You don’t understand anything about me!” He stormed off, heading deeper into the Ark.

  Our future is not as bright as Ham believes, Ila thought with a pang. Still she knew she was lucky to have Shem. “Ham’s upset about having no wife,” she said softly to Shem. “Surely you can understand that.”

  “I do understand my brother’s loneliness, yes.” Shem nodded. “But I cannot understand his actions sometimes. How could he take a weapon from a man like that—an assassin who struck down our grandfather?”

  “Ham didn’t know the man was Tubal-cain,” Ila reminded him.

  “True,” Shem admitted. “But when he saw the warlords, Ham should have left with Japheth, not lingered in the forest. And he certainly should have obeyed Father and put down the axe immediately.”

  “Perhaps Ham will come to his senses soon and apologize to Father.”

  “Perhaps.” Shem still sounded angry. “It’s plain to see now that Tubal-cain is a danger to Father and to all of us. Ham had better keep his distance.”

  “He will.” Ila reached up to touch Shem’s face, trying to coax him out of his anger. She ran her fingers over his eyes and then over his lips. Then she stood on tiptoes to kiss him.

  “I love you,” she said.

  “I love you too.” He put his arms around her and pulled her close. They stood there like that for a few minutes.

  Everything seems so perfect sometimes, Ila thought. Full and complete. Yet their future did not seem as certain as Ham had implied.

  “I’ve been wondering about something,” she said softly.

  “Yes?” He pulled back to look at her.

  “Do you ever wish you had a different wife? One who could give you children?”

  “Ila…” He lifted her chin to make her look at him. “What we have is enough,” he said. “We love each other and—”

  “You can’t deny that you’re frustrated, Shem. I’ve seen plenty of signs of that. And you deserve better than this. You deserve a wife who can give you a son or a daughter. A wife who knows pleasure. No matter what you say to me, Shem, I can see the truth in your eyes.”

  “Shh…” He hushed her with another kiss. “Please, Ila, let’s not talk about it.”

  Ila stayed quiet, and let the subject drop. But nonetheless it remained on her mind.

  I don’t want to stand in his way any longer, she thought fiercely. She loved him too much for that.

  * * *

  More days passed, and more animals came. Ila stayed busy with all there was to do. As she worked, she brooded over what to do about Shem. She could see that Ham sometimes brooded too.

  One day there was a loud clamor outside the Ark. When Ila peered out, she could see that thousands more animals had arrived.

  “It’s the mammals!” Ham exclaimed.

  They rushed into the clearing to see the vast ocean of animals close up. There were hundreds of amazing, beautiful creatures, many of which Ila had never seen before—rats and pacas and bat-eared foxes scampered around sabre-toothed bears, while wild dogs and great cats rubbed shoulders with gazelles and antelopes. There were oxen, spiked warthogs and giant white kangaroos. Apes swung from the trees, dropping onto the backs of larger animals as elands and hippos walked calmly by. Japheth stood there with Noah, watching them all in amazement.

  Naameh filled the brazier with herbs, to welcome these newest arrivals. Then together they guided the beasts toward their new home at the rear of the ship. The fumes from the lighted braziers put all the animals to sleep.

  * * *

  Still full of worried thoughts, Ila passed by Noah’s workshop near the great furnace. He sat at a large workbench, hammering and sawing final pieces for the Ark. She paused, watching him work for a moment. She was about to leave when he spotted her.

  “Ila!” he greeted her with a warm smile.

  “Should I come back later?” she asked.

  “No, no,” he said. “Please.” He waved toward a stool. “Sit with me.”

  She smiled nervously and sat down. How could she begin?

  “I was wondering about those men who brought Ham back… Will they attack us?” she asked.

  Noah’s expression turned grave. “They will come when the rain comes,” he replied.

  “And when will the rain come?” she asked.

  “Soon.”

  She hesitated. “What do you think it will be like?”

  “I’ve imagined it,” Noah began.

  Ila thought of all the dreams that Shem had described for her—his father’s dark nightmares of floodwaters, millions drowning, terrible devastation to the earth.

  Noah’s face clouded. “I’m not sure there are words to describe it, Ila.”

  “You see the end of everything.” said Ila.

  “No.” Noah shook his head. “What I see is the beginning. The beginning of everything”

  At that she felt herself choke up. She felt that she could never have such a new beginning.

  “Ila…” Noah came toward her, concerned. “What is it?”

  She shook her head, unable to reply.

  “Whatever he has done or said, Shem is very fond of you,” Noah said softly.

  Ila looked at him, surprised he’d known she was upset about Shem. “Did he speak with you?”

  “I have eyes,” Noah replied. He waited for her to finish.

  “I’ve been thinking.” She took a deep breath. “Shem needs a woman. A real woman, not one who is damaged and scarred as I am. He should have a family. And you know that I can’t give that to him.

  “I’m not going to deny him those things. Even if he wants me to. I won’t do it!”

  Noah stared at her, taken aback by the fierceness in her voice.

  “Besides,” she went on, her tone softening. “Why would the Creator want a barren girl—a woman who can’t have children—on his ark? It doesn’t make any sense. Surely you can see that too.”

  “Yes…” Noah nodded, closing his eyes and thinking deeply for a moment. “It’s a very good question, Ila,” he said at last.

  “When we first took you in, I thought you were going to be a burden. And I didn’t want to see anyone else ruined by this world. But I was wrong. You were a gift—a precious, precious gift. Please don’t forget
how precious you are.” He leaned forward to hug her.

  Ila felt tears threatening to spill. She knew that Noah loved her as a daughter, and she loved him as a father. But his reminder of their bond didn’t change anything.

  Shem had been her loyal friend and companion, staying close to her ever since the family had come upon her in her devastated camp. She loved him with all her heart, and owed him something more than she felt she could give.

  She pulled herself back from Noah and then looked into his eyes.

  “I know you will be going to find wives for Ham and Japheth soon,” she said softly. “Please find one for Shem too.”

  5

  “WHERE IS FATHER?” HAM ASKED ILA THE NEXT DAY.

  Ila shrugged. She hadn’t seen Noah since their conversation the night before.

  “Mother said he went to get a look at Tubal-cain’s camp last night,” Shem put in. He looked toward the woods. “He has not returned yet.”

  “There are many families living in tents near the camp,” Ham put in eagerly. “Perhaps Father will come back with wives for Japheth and me!”

  “Perhaps.” Naameh looked distracted. “I am not sure where he is… I expected him back before daylight.”

  “I’m sure he’ll return soon, Mother,” Shem reassured her.

  They all got busy with chores. Ham and Shem finished laying the roof while Naameh and Ila gathered more food. As she plucked some herbs from Naameh’s garden, Ila noticed a Watcher laying out piles of chains.

  What are those for? she wondered. Her mind flashed back to the scene with Tubal-cain and his men. Were the Watchers preparing for more trouble? Noah still was not back, and—

  Just then someone burst into the clearing.

  “Noah?” Naameh called, eyeing him with concern. She rushed toward him and Ila followed. Noah’s eyes looked wild and spooked. “What happened?” Naameh wanted to know.

  He stormed past her and began barking out orders. “All this should be inside the Ark by now!” He waved a hand at the supplies and scaffolding in front of the Ark. “We need to make haste. The storm is coming.”

  Make haste? Noah’s words sounded ominous. Ila scurried around with Shem, picking things up.

  But Ham hurried after his father. “What of our wives?” he demanded. “Where are they?”