Bloodline by Alan Gold

Author:Alan Gold
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Atria Books

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THEY MET IN A SHOP selling spices in Damascus’s eastern market. They smiled at each other and kissed as sisters. Rabbi Joshua’s wife, Shoshanna, was buying leeks and onions for their evening meal. Naomi, Reuven’s wife, was searching for a gold clasp to decorate a new robe she’d bought, now that the baby was growing so big that her clothes were starting to be too tight.

“Sister,” said Shoshanna, “you look so pale. Is the pregnancy difficult for you?”

Naomi nodded. “Girls half my age seem to have no problem growing a baby in their womb. I’m suffering because of my years and because I am slight of body.”

“Come, let’s go and find an inn and drink a cup of spiced water to refresh us,” said Shoshanna, leading her by the hand to a place she’d found the previous day where the owner used fresh and not dried herbs in his water. They sat and sipped the hot liquid, and it immediately refreshed both of them.

“Soon we’ll be in Jerusalem,” Shoshanna said. “Joshua says that we’ll be leaving here in a matter of days, and then it’s only a two-month walk until we return to our homeland. Isn’t that marvelous?”

Naomi nodded. “It coincides with the time of the birth of my son. The Lord God has been kind to me. I hope it pleases Him to continue to be kind and to allow me to finish my journey in good health so that Reuven and I can enjoy many years of pleasure with our son.”

“Why do you say that?” asked Shoshanna. “Don’t you think that you’ll finish the journey?”

“Only God Almighty knows whether I’ll survive. I’ve been feeling so exhausted these last few days that I don’t know whether I can continue on to Jerusalem. Perhaps I should stay here until the birth.”

“No! No, you can’t do that. Your son must be born in Israel, and especially in Jerusalem. He will be the first of a new generation of Israelites.”

Naomi nodded. “But if my body is too weak, I may be forced to stay here, in Damascus.”

“But that means that Reuven will remain with you, should that be your decision. My husband was counting on Reuven to assist him in rebuilding the nation.”

“Joshua? Is he on the council of governors?”

“What council?”

Naomi flushed. “Oh, nothing. I must be confused.” And she hurriedly looked down at her cup of herb water.

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