WATER and other stories Read online

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  Almost two weeks later, Jacob sat in the cool of a summer evening. He waved one last time as his mother and little brother, Micah, disappeared over the stone fence at the top of the hill between the two homes. Yes—I have two homes now, Jacob thought. It’s nice that they come to visit me.

  His mind wandered to recent days when he would visit Eder in much the same manner. Jacob missed him. He worried if Eder had arrived in Hasor safely, but dismissed the thought. Jacob remembered the contingent of Gideonite soldiers that had escorted Eder as if he were a king. Eder the Goatherd: Ambassador and Counselor to the people of Daniel. The idea warmed Jacob.

  As Jacob reflected, he once again heard Eder’s song in his mind. He softly hummed it. The words which came to him spoke of trees and flowers—a perfect description of the beautiful mountain vistas around him. He gazed to the south, admiring the grand peaks of Gideon. A breeze came down the valley, causing the tall grasses near the stream to sway, and he heard a creak from the lone, dead tree as the wind passed through its naked limbs.

  He looked. Every other time the tree had come to his attention, Jacob would always look away, unable to regard it. The frightening memory of the lightning strike had been too much to bear. But today, he was strong.

  I take care of myself. I have responsibilities. Mother considers me a man now. The uncertainty he had felt on the day Eder left, no longer remained. Once again, the burnt-out oak seemed to call to him, begging him to come and rest by its trunk like he had as a boy.

  Jacob retrieved his shepherd’s staff. At an almost leisurely pace, he left Eder’s home and walked toward the tree. He wanted to go. He had put this off for far too long.

  When he found the valley floor, he followed the stream until it veered away, then arrived at the tree. Most of the upper trunk was charcoal, except for one spot where it had split. The large fallen branch still lay on the ground and was nearly rotted through. Grasses around the branch were tall, undisturbed by the herd.

  Jacob reached. He touched the splintered surface—a dry and rough wound. His fingers traced down the blackened trunk. He glanced down. There, at the base of the tree, was the place where he had sat on that fateful night. He knelt and brushed his hand across the familiar ground. Jacob gazed up at the tree again and rolled off his knees to sit. He closed his eyes and could almost feel the rain, hear the thunder.

  “Eder does not blame me for his blindness,” Jacob said to the tree as he peered up at the tallest fingers of wood reaching skyward.

  The tree did not answer.

  “I realize now I was protected, even though Eder lost his sight, and Father. . .”

  Jacob did not complete the thought. He wiped his eyes. Low in the eastern sky, Aqua and Azure were now touching. By morning, their weekly cycle would be complete. Their crossing would mark the Sabbath day. He looked away for a moment, then again checked on their progress.

  When the suns finally dipped below the eastern horizon, all the color of a typical evening filled the sky. But then, just as the last beams hurled themselves over the mountains, the heavens brightened.

  The light came from the west, just like any other suns-rising Jacob had ever seen. Jacob watched the curious display, his eyes full of wonder. Jade, Ebony and Sienna, the three moons of Gan, all rose, nearly together. The sky was full of light.

  Then he heard music. There was singing! Accompanied by a glorious, exuberant melody, joyful words echoed through the valley. Jacob could not hear the full message at first, but the feeling which was carried by the parts he did understand stoked a flame within his heart. Leaning forward and looking up, he tried to determine the direction from which the unseen voices came. At that moment, the song from above dramatically increased in volume until, like the unrolling of a scroll, the heavens opened. Jacob saw the angels. The magnificent power of their shining presence, all in shimmering white, caused Jacob to fall onto one elbow. He raised his other hand as if to call to them.

  Descending like gliding birds, the angels declared their various messages with boldness: “We bring tidings of great joy! Peace and good will to you! The King has been born! Shepherds awake, and watch, and pray!”

  Taught by his mother, Jacob knew that The One Who Would Suffer—the Great King of all the universe—would be born on another world, far away. He marveled at the fact that the angels had come to him, a simple shepherd boy, and shared their wonderful news. Overcome by their beauty and the powerful light which emanated from their beings, he could do no more than watch as they sang praises to their God, lifting their voices again heavenward. Gradually, and still singing, they began to depart.

  Unnoticed previously, one angel at the fringe of the multitude caught Jacob’s eye. The angel ascended with the others, but paused and turned, joy in his face. Jacob gasped. His father smiled.

  “I love you, Jacob.”

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