Chapter One
"JEWEL OF JABNEEL"
ANCIENT PALESTINE, CIRCA 1060 B.C.-ON
A BLISTERING SUMMER DAY IN THE
BUSTLING BAZAAR OF HEBRON, THESON OF SAMSON PAUSES BEFORE
QUENCHING HIS PARCHED THROAT .
. AND GIVES THANKS TO
GOD FOR THE SMALL MIRACLE
OF A SWEET JUICY MELON!
HEY!
I SPENT MY
LAST GERAH FOR THATCANTALOUPE!
EITHER BY INTENTION OR OR ILL-BRED
RUDENESS, THE RUFFIANSIGNORE BRANAN'S PLIGHT.
THEIR FOCUS IS RIVETED ON
THE WEALTH PATRON OF
THE CLOTH MERCHANT .
. AND HER BULGING MONEY PURSE
SO CARELESSLY FLAUNTED!
WHAT
THE -?
THE SWIFT-THINKING GIRL
IS NO CLAY PIGEON .
. AND WISELY SEEKS REFUGE
BEHIND THE NEAREST
BASTION OF SAFETY
STEP ASIDE, WHELP!
OUR SHINY NEWDAGGERS HAVE URGENT
BUSINESS .
. WITH
THIS ARISTOCRATIC
STRUMPET!
YOU'VE
CHOSEN YOUR
WEAPONS . NOW I
HAVE MINE!
I'MSURE I COULD
HAVE MANAGED,
BUT MY THANKS
NONETHELESS!
MY NAME ISSAPHIRA.
I AMBRANAN OF
GATH.
I SEE
THEY GROW
THEM BIG IN
GATH!
I'M RETURNING
HOME TO JABNEEL,
AND IT'S CLEAR I AM IN
NEED OF PROTECTION
FROM THE LOCALRIFFRAFF.
COULD I INTEREST
YOU IN JOINING MY HUMBLE
CARAVAN AND ESCORTING AHELPLESS MAIDEN SAFELY
TO HER HOME?
IT'S A
JOURNEY OFTWO DAYS, AND IPROMISE TO MAKE
IT WELL WORTH
YOUR WHILE!
THE CITY OF GATH WAS WELL
KNOWN FOR ITS GIANTS.
(SEE 2 SAMUEL 21:19-22.)
HMM .!
CONTEMPLATING HIS
EMPTY MONEY PURSE .
. BRANAN SURRENDERS TO
SAPHIRA'S ALLURING SMILE.
MEANWHILE .
HERE'S
THE AMOUNT
WE AGREED UPON.
INFORM
YOUR MISTRESS
WE'RE AVAILABLE
ANYTIME
LATER, ON THE ROAD
TO JABNIEL .
I MUST
SAY, HEFTING
THAT PRODUCE
CART WAS QUITEIMPRESSIVE
IT WAS A
TRIFLE
THE TWO
BUMBLING DOLTS BACK
AT THE MARKETPLACE
WOULD UNDOUBTEDLY
DISAGREE.
I'LL
WAGER THEYWET THEMSELVES
MAKING THERESCAPE!
HA HA HA! I
CONSIDER MYSELFWARNED!
MY CHARISMATIC
PERSONALITYCAN HAVE THAT
EFFECT.
DEAR ME!
THE JOVIAL MOOD IS OUT WITH AKNIFE, AS THE TWO TRAVELERSBEHOLD THE TRAGIC SIGHT OF A
PHOENICIAN SLAVE CARAVAN!
TAKING A BREAK FROM THEWEARY ROAD, ABU THE SLAVE
MERCHANT WONDERS IF HIS
STOIC GUARDS APPRECIATE THEHARDSHIPS HE MUST ENDURE.
AFTER ALL, DINING ON COLD
LAMB AND TEPID WINE ISTOO MUCH FOR A CIVILIZEDGENTLEMAN TO BEAR.
BUT ABU TAKES CONSOLATION
THAT HIS GOD BAAL WILL SURELYREWARD HIM FOR SUFFERING INSILENCE.
MEANWHILE, AS THE CARAVAN'S HUMAN CARGO WATCHES ABUFEAST, THEY DESPERATELY HOPE
HE TOSSES HIS SCRAPS TOWARD
THEIR PENS, FOR THIS MAY BE THEIR
ONLY CHANCE TO EAT THIS DAY.
(Continues.)
