Read Journey to the Well: A Novel Online
Authors: Diana Wallis Taylor
Journey to the Well: A Novel (23 page)
“Quickly!” Jesse was screaming at him.
Haman looked up just as the tree was bearing down on them. One branch struck him heavily as he jumped back out of the way. He went down on the ground, his head spinning. From somewhere there was a scream and then, darkness.
When Haman awoke, the sun was low on the horizon. His head ached and his face was wet. He reached up to feel his head and his hand came away with blood on it. He moved his head slowly, trying to clear his mind. Then he thought of Jesse. Painfully he turned and saw Jesse lying under the main body of the tree. He stood up slowly and waited for the dizziness to pass, then he made his way to where Jesse lay. There was no sound and no sign of life. He put his hand on Jesse’s face but could feel no breath. A trickle of blood had run out of Jesse’s mouth. Was he dead?
Haman cursed himself for his cowardice. In all his anger, he really meant no harm. He stood for a long moment. Marah’s face came before him, and knowing the anguish she would suffer, he cursed himself again. He shook his head. It was done. There was nothing more he could do for Jesse, except bring help to free him. Seeing the mule nearby, he staggered over, caught the bridle, and swung himself upon the animal. Leaning upon the mule’s neck, he urged her toward Shechem.
30
I
t had taken a long time for the men who had gone with Haman to recover Jesse’s body. The tree had to be cut into three sections to remove the part that pinned Jesse to the ground. Haman stood nearby, watching. He had offered to help but had been waved aside. His wounded head was bandaged with one of Hannah’s poultices. He had a great headache, and was relieved to sit down. In spite of his wound, he had ridden furiously back to Shechem to seek help for Jesse. This put him in a favorable light with the neighboring men in Shechem who gathered at Elon’s frantic summons.
t had taken a long time for the men who had gone with Haman to recover Jesse’s body. The tree had to be cut into three sections to remove the part that pinned Jesse to the ground. Haman stood nearby, watching. He had offered to help but had been waved aside. His wounded head was bandaged with one of Hannah’s poultices. He had a great headache, and was relieved to sit down. In spite of his wound, he had ridden furiously back to Shechem to seek help for Jesse. This put him in a favorable light with the neighboring men in Shechem who gathered at Elon’s frantic summons.
Marah waited in anguish, hoping beyond hope that they would bring Jesse back to her injured, but alive. She had tended Haman and heard his terrible story of the accident, the hole, Jesse’s fall; that the tree had been cut deeper than they thought. Elon listened, pain and anxiety on his wrinkled face; Caleb listened, sobbing quietly.
Marah prepared the meal, her eyes constantly glancing toward the entrance to the courtyard. Elon sat quietly on a small stool, and Caleb tended the animals, dried tears on his small, pinched face. Hannah had brought some food and helped Marah with the meal. Simon had gone with the men to help. They waited, each with their own thoughts and fears. Marah fought the sense of foreboding that filled her chest and threatened to suffocate her. Jesse, alive and strong this morning, touching her face with his hand, his look of love. How she depended on him. How she loved him. He was to be with her forever. They would raise their children and grow old together. Even if he were crippled, he would at least be alive. She couldn’t bear to think of the alternative.
Through the night they waited. It was nearly dawn when the men returned, moving slowly with the cart. Anxiously she and Caleb ran to meet them. The men were dirty and tired and hung their heads at the sight of her anxious face. Only Simon looked at her and his sadness sent a jolt of fear through her. He shook his head and laid a gentle hand on her shoulder.
“I am sorry, Marah, he was dead. There was nothing we could do except to free him from the tree.”
They stopped the cart and lifted the cloth that covered him. His face seemed peaceful, as though he were asleep. Caleb cried out, “Papa, no! No!” Marah tore her mantle; her cries of anguish echoing in the street as they led her home. Beside her she was vaguely aware of the sobs of a small boy.
Elon stood with dignity as they approached the gate. Then he heard Marah’s cries as a small blond bundle flung himself sobbing into his grandfather’s arms. They comforted one another as tears ran down the old man’s wrinkled face into his beard.
Elon tried to be strong for Marah, yet she could see his heart was broken. He bore the loss of his only son as bravely as he could, setting his own grief aside to give strength to Caleb and her.
Marah was numb with pain. She felt a hand on her shoulder. It was Haman.
“I am sorry, Marah, so very sorry. I share your grief. If only there was something I could have done. I blame myself for this.”
She looked up at him and saw the anguish in his face. “I am sure you did all you could, Haman, but thank you for your words.” She turned away, for she couldn’t speak further.
Haman stood nearby a moment and then turned and spoke with Elon. “I would give anything to erase this day. I am sorry, Uncle. We were just getting acquainted. I didn’t mean to bring grief to our family.”
Elon looked past him, gazing unseeing into the distance. “Thank you, Haman, I know you did your best to save my son.” He nodded quietly, putting a hand on his nephew’s shoulder, but in spite of Haman’s best efforts at conversation, Elon sat quietly and stared at the gate. Finally Haman left him alone.
As he stood in the courtyard and watched the women come with their spices and pieces of cloth, Haman decided not to remain while they prepared Jesse’s body for burial. He turned and headed for the caravansary with heavy steps.
After the burial, Caleb woodenly moved about his chores with the animals. The fun-loving, happy little boy was now a solemn child who seldom spoke except in single syllables.
Elon seemed to fade away almost in front of their eyes. He ate little and slept even less.
Haman came as often as he could with a word for Elon, comfort for Marah, and his usual small gifts for Caleb. Caleb had been raised to be courteous to adults and he responded politely to the gifts. After Haman had gone, Caleb would toss the gift in a small basket by his pallet not to be retrieved again.
As the days moved into weeks, Marah kept herself going for Caleb’s sake. Once she found him sitting in the shadows holding the little camel his father had bought him the day they went to the caravansary. Tears were running down his cheeks. She knelt beside him and wordlessly took him into her arms as they wept together. It was the one and only time he let her comfort him after his father’s death. Jesse’s death changed Caleb. He went about his chores in a deliberate way. He volunteered to help around the house and seemed to watch over Marah lest she do something too much for her strength. Then she realized that, with his grandfather’s enfeebled condition, and his father gone, he was trying to be the man of the house. Marah watched him as he stoically strove to be all that he could.
One evening Elon spoke with Marah about their circumstances and the next morning he went into the village with Simon. When he returned, he drew Caleb aside.
“Caleb, come. There are things we must talk about.” His grandfather sat down outside in the sun and Caleb sat next to him. Marah stood nearby, for Elon had told her of the results of his venture into the city.
“Caleb, you have done well. I could not have gotten through this time without you.” The boy’s shoulders straightened and he lifted his chin with pride at his grandfather’s words. “Yet, we must consider what is now to be done.”
“To be done?”
“Yes, you are a great help, but you cannot run the carpentry shop, you are too young.”
“I am strong. Papa always said I could do things most boys my age can’t do. I could take care of us.”
“That is a comfort to me, Caleb, but the tradesmen will not let a ten-year-old boy work among them and run the shop no matter how capable you are.”
Caleb looked down at the ground and shook his head. “What will we do?”
“You could be an apprentice to one of the other carpenters. You have the skill of your father. In time, when you are older, you could have your own shop, just like your father. In the meantime, we must manage.” Elon tried to sound as positive as he could.
Caleb considered his words. He knew his grandfather was right.
“How would you like to choose some tools from the shop to keep?”
“I would like that,” Caleb said slowly. Then a thought occurred to him. “What will happen to Papa’s shop, Grandfather?”
“I will have to sell the shop, Caleb.”
“Sell the shop? Can’t we just keep it, for when I am ready?” His eyes pleaded with his grandfather.
Marah felt the boy’s pain as Elon answered, “I wish it were so, Caleb, but we cannot just keep the shop for six to eight years until you are ready. We must live, and we have your mama to consider.”
Caleb’s shoulders sagged. He nodded.
“Tomorrow we shall go and you may choose a few tools. One of the other carpenters on the street, Shiva, has agreed to buy the shop. At least it will not be a stranger from another town. He has also agreed to take you as an apprentice.”
“I know Shiva. My papa liked him.” He paused. “I would like to be his apprentice.” He looked up bravely at Elon and turned to Marah. With pride she hugged him to her. He endured her embrace for a brief moment and then struggled to be free. “I have work to do, Mama,” he said, lifting his chin, and he hurried back to his chores.
Marah turned to find Haman regarding her quietly in the courtyard.
“Haman, I didn’t see you.” She moved toward him. He hadn’t been able to do enough for them, and she knew how remorseful he felt.
Haman smiled at her. “You look as if someone has just lifted a load off your shoulders.”
“Indeed. My father-in-law has arranged for Caleb to be an apprentice to one of the other carpenters, Shiva. Shiva is also going to buy Jesse’s shop. It will help us a great deal.”
Haman’s face fell. “And here I thought I was bringing good news, myself. It appears as if I am too late.”
“Too late? What do you mean?”
He took her elbow and, with an air of confidentiality, leaned closer. “I was going to tell Caleb that he has a job at the caravansary. He would be only a camel boy, but . . .” He shrugged his shoulders in regret.
“Haman, how kind of you to do this. I don’t wish to have him disappoint his grandfather. Perhaps if we had known sooner.” She was aware that Haman was gently steering her toward the house. As they neared the doorway, Marah caught a glimpse of Caleb watching them. A jolt shot through her as she realized that the look on his face was just like Jesse.
“Marah, I wish to talk with you about another matter, a more personal one. I would give anything to bring back your husband, you must know this.” He looked at her sadly. “Yet, you must also realize you need someone to look after the family, a man. I am offering myself to you. You are welcome to all that I have.” He looked deep into her eyes, and in spite of herself, Marah felt part of herself responding. For a brief moment she almost let herself be held and comforted. She had missed Jesse terribly. She had missed being held and loved by a man. The nights were unbearably long and lonely.
“What are you saying to me, Haman?” She moved away slightly.
“I realize that it may be too soon. But I have come to care for you and Caleb, and I would offer myself to you, as a husband.”
“Husband? Haman I . . . I cannot think of that now.” Marah felt confused somehow. It was not totally unexpected, yet when she heard the words she had mixed emotions.
“Would you feel you were betraying Jesse?”
How could he know what she was thinking? She looked up with a start. “It is just that I am not ready to consider marriage again, at least not yet.” Her eyes pooled with unbidden tears.
“Do not let it trouble you. I do understand. I will give you all the time you need. Just say you will consider my offer. Elon is old and Caleb needs a father to look after him while he is still young. You need a husband, in time.”
She could not meet his eyes, but merely nodded. “I will consider your offer, Haman, when I am ready.”
“Then I shall hope, and wait for that day.” He bowed slightly and left her.
31
H
annah blushed in the warmth of the sun as she and Marah stood in the courtyard. She had brought momentous news, and for once, Marah had no words. She regarded her friend in awe and delight.
annah blushed in the warmth of the sun as she and Marah stood in the courtyard. She had brought momentous news, and for once, Marah had no words. She regarded her friend in awe and delight.
“Are you going to congratulate me on my news? I know we are getting on in years, yet the God Who Sees has taken away my shame and reproach. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
“Oh Hannah,” Marah breathed, “a child. You are to have a child?”
Hannah laughed. “Simon goes around shaking his head. He is pleased to be a father at last, and is delighted at this blessing in our later years, but he still cannot believe it.”
“When shall it be?”
“At the time of the olive harvest, near the month of Marcheshvan.”
“Hannah. That is only six months away. How have you kept this from me for so long?” Marah looked at her friend in reproach.
“I had to be sure. There have been so many times when I thought I was in that way, and then, nothing. I had to have no doubts.” Hannah’s beautiful brown eyes sparkled. “Blessed be the name of the God of Abraham who has seen my tears and harkened to my cry. He has taken away my reproach among women and blessed me. Praise be to His name.”
“Praise be to His name for this great gift.”
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